Top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang met with visiting Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Thursday and pledged to boost legislative cooperation between the two countries.

Hailing the traditional friendship, smooth development of bilateral ties and fruitful cooperation in recent years between the two countries, Zhang said he believes that President Yanukovych's visit to China will promote the China-Ukraine strategic partnership in a comprehensive and in-depth way.

The National People's Congress (NPC) stands ready to boost friendly relationship with its Ukrainian counterpart to give play to the special function of parliamentary exchanges in enhancing state-to-state ties, said Zhang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee.

During the meeting, Yanukovych expressed his admiration for China's development, saying that the Ukrainian side is committed to boosting cooperation between the two countries in various areas to further enrich the Ukraine-China strategic partnership.

Yanukovych said he looks forward to closer parliamentary exchanges and cooperation between the two sides to legislatively ensure the healthy development of the bilateral relationship.