China, Bulgaria to enhance parliamentary exchanges

BEIJING, Dec. 16 -- China and Bulgaria on Monday vowed to further enhance bilateral exchanges and cooperation of parliament and to create better legal environment for the two countries' comprehensive cooperation.

The pledge came out of talks between China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang and Bulgarian Parliament Speaker Mihail Mikov at the Great Hall of the People.

"China's National People's Congress (NPC) attaches high importance to relations with the Bulgarian parliament, and is willing to strengthen their exchanges on legislation and governing the country," said Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC, China's top legislature.

He added that the two parliamentary bodies should promote cooperation and try to create better legal environment for cooperation in trade, investment, technology and tourism.

He also called on the two sides to give full play of friendly groups of legislators to push forward people-to-people communication, so as to consolidate the social foundation of China-Bulgaria friendship.

Speaking highly of the traditional friendship between Bulgaria and China, Mikov echoed Zhang saying the Bulgarian parliament will strengthen experience sharing with China's NPC and jointly promote the two countries' cooperation in trade, investment, technology and culture.

With regard to the bilateral relations between China and Bulgaria, Zhang said the two countries witnessed smooth and ever deepening progress of bilateral ties featuring solid political relations and frequent high-level engagement.

China appreciated Bulgaria's long-term adherence to the one-China policy and its firm support on issues concerning China's core interests and major concern, Zhang noted.

Calling the two countries "good friends and partners of mutual trust", Zhang said China will work with Bulgaria to strengthen friendly exchanges, deepen reciprocal cooperation and jointly promote their bilateral ties to a new high.

Zhang also reviewed the summit between China and Central and Eastern European countries recently held in Bucharest of Romania. He said China will conduct close coordination with Bulgaria to promote the implementation of the consensus reached in the summit, so as to benefit the people of China and Central and Eastern European countries.

Invited by Zhang, Mikov is visiting China from Dec. 12 to 17 with a Bulgarian parliament delegation.