Wu Bangguo (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), shakes hands with Thongsing Thammavong, president of Lao National Assembly, during their meeting in Beijing, capital of China, on March 24, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)

China's top legislator Wu Bangguo met on Monday with Thongsing Thammavong, president of the Lao National Assembly, vowing to enhance parliamentary and economic and trade cooperation.

China and Laos have traditional friendship with political trust and mutual support, and bilateral cooperation should be further enhanced, said Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislative body.

China would like to work with Laos to deepen cooperation in infrastructure and agriculture, and promote personnel training and exchanges, Wu said.

The NPC would maintain high-level exchanges with Lao National Assembly and continue coordination on international and regional parliamentary organizations so as to inject fresh momentum to China-Laos ties.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also met with Thongsing, saying it was of strategic meaning for China and Laos to deepen friendly relations and comprehensive cooperation in the new era.

China was willing to maintain high-level exchanges with Laos and expand cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, finance, education, science, human resources. China would continuously implement the aid project to Laos, Wen said.

Echoing Chinese leaders' remarks, Thongsing said that Laos hopes to learn from China's experience of development and enhance economic cooperation with China.

Thongsing emphasized that the party, government and people in Laos always stood by the Chinese side and opposed separatism by anyone. He voiced support for a successful Beijing Olympic Games.

Thongsing is here on an official good-will visit to China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Wu.

(Xinhua News Agency March 25, 2008)