Visiting Chinese top legislator Li Peng called on Mauritian President Cassam Uteem on November 16 and expressed his hope that the two countries will expand their sincere and fruitful cooperation to all fields.

Li, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, told Uteem that China is ready to expand such an cooperation with Mauritius in political, economic, cultural and other fields on the basis of mutual respect, equality and treating each other on equal footing.

He said since the two countries established diplomatic ties 27 years ago, bilateral exchanges and cooperation have been growing steadily and the common ground shared by China and Mauritius on some important international issues has also been expanding.

Sino-Mauritian exchanges can be traced back to as early as the middle of the 18th century, Li said.

Over the past 200 years, the population of Chinese Mauritians has surpassed 30,000. "They have made contribution to the friendship between the two countries," Li said.

Uteem said Chinese Mauritians, together with other ethnic groups on the island, have made great contribution to the development of Mauritius.

He said Port Louis now has frequent exchanges with its sister city of Foshan in China's Guangdong Province.

Uteem voiced his confidence that Mauritius-China relations will continue to develop.

The Mauritian president told Li that Mauritius is also willing to expand cooperation with China in international organizations.

And the member countries of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IORARC) also hope that China will establish relations of cooperation with the IORARC, Uteem added.

Li reiterated that China, also a developing country, attaches great importance to enhancing unity and cooperation with all other developing countries including Mauritius. "We will stick to the policy," Li reassured.

Li arrived here on Monday evening for a two-day official goodwill visit aimed at enhancing bilateral ties.

Mauritius is the first leg of Li's six-nation tour of Africa and Asia. After concluding his visit here Wednesday, Li will proceed to South Africa, Kenya, Israel, Palestine and Oman.