Top Legislator Li Peng Meets Russian Sate Duma Vice-ChairmanLi Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said November 24 that China's NPC is ready to have more exchange and cooperation with the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, to develop China-Russia relations.Li made the remarks during a meeting with Vladimir Lukin, vice-chairman of the Russian State Duma, who is leading a group of Duma members on a visit to China. Arriving on Monday, November 20, the Russian guests have since traveled to Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing. Li recalled his last visit to Russia in September. He said that China sets great store by developing good-neighborly relations with Russia. "China and Russia have maintained a sound development momentum of relations and have had wide-ranging cooperation in bilateral and multi-lateral areas," Li noted. "We are convinced that the strategic cooperative partnership relations between our two countries will gain new development momentum in the new century," he added. Li said China welcomed the setup of China-Russia friendship group by members of the State Duma not long ago. He said the parliaments of the two countries should conduct more exchanges and cooperation and make unremitting efforts for the overall development of China-Russia relations. Li also briefed the Russian guests on the main ideas of China's new Five-Year (2001-2005) development plan, the development of China's special economic zones and China's views on major international issues. Lukin said that the 47-member Russia-China Friendship Group of Members of Duma is the largest friendship group between Russia's State Duma and a foreign country. He said his delegation is very impressed by the achievements they have seen in Hong Kong after its return and the enormous change happening in Shenzhen and Shanghai. |
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