Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, November 28, 2002
China's Top Legislator Meets Finnish President
Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), met in Beijing Wednesday with visiting Finnish President Tarja Halonen.
Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), met in Beijing Wednesday with visiting Finnish President Tarja Halonen.
Li said Sino-Finnish relations, which have withstood the test of time and international changes over more than 50 years, have become more mature and stable with cooperation bearing fruit in various fields.
As an important component of bilateral relations, the legislative bodies of the two countries have also kept in close contact, which has played an indispensable role in boosting mutualunderstanding and friendship between both peoples, he said.
China is satisfied with the good pace of parliamentary exchanges and he hopes for more such exchanges to boost overall bilateral relations.
Li also briefed Halonen on China's strategy of ruling the country by law and grass-roots elections.
The NPC and its Standing Committee have continuously strengthened legislation while making it a priority, he added.
He stressed that the plans mapped out by the just-concluded 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) are meant to put China's political, economic and social life under therule of law.
Halonen, who arrived here Tuesday morning on a three-day state visit to China as guest of Chinese President Jiang Zemin, explained how Finland's parliament works and its cooperation with parliaments of other European Union member states.
She said the two parliaments have cooperated well in a range ofways and hopes for more exchanges between them.
She held that the 16th National Congress of the CPC is an important one for advancing China's democracy and legal system.