Visiting Chinese top legislator Li Peng held friendly talks with Omani Deputy Prime Minister for Cabinet Affairs Fahd Bin Mahmoud in Muscat Thursday, both calling for increased cooperation between the two countries.

Mahmoud said relations between Oman and China can be traced long back into the remote years and the economic cooperation between the two sides has made new progress since they established diplomatic relations in 1978.

He expressed the belief that Li's visit will certainly help deepen mutual understanding and expand bilateral cooperation.

Mahmoud said the people of Oman have come to know that they could not rely totally on oil and natural gas and they must diversify their economy, adding Oman is ready to strengthen economic cooperation with China.

Li, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, said he agrees with Mahmoud and called for joint efforts to further promote the existing friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Mahmoud said Oman-China relationship features mutual respect and trust.

He told Li that he appreciates China's practice of treating small countries as equals and its moderate and responsible foreign policy, which has won favorable comments and praises across the world.

Li said mutual respect and treating each other as equals constitute the solid foundation for China-Oman cooperation, though the two countries differ in social system, historical background, cultural tradition, the size of territory and population.

Li told Mahmoud that he had reached broad consensus with Hamoud bin Abdullah Al-Harthy, president of the State Council, during their talks in the morning.

On China's foreign policy, Li said China adopts a responsible attitude in handling international issues, adheres to principles, upholds justice.

China bases its judgement of important international and regional issues on the truth and adopts appropriate measures accordingly.