BEIJING, July 15 -- China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang pledged on Tuesday to step up parliamentary exchanges with Russia.

Zhang, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, made the pledge while meeting with the First Vice President of the Russia State Duma Ivan Melnikov.

Hailing the sound development of China-Russia all-round partnership of strategic cooperation, Zhang called on both sides to further implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, and strengthen support for each other on issues regarding respective core interests.

He called for closer China-Russia cooperation to maintain their common interests and world peace and stability.

The cooperation committee between the NPC and the Russian Federal Council and the State Duma, the upper and lower houses of the Russian parliament, is the only high-level parliamentary exchange mechanism that China has with a foreign country, Zhang said.

He urged both sides to enhance exchanges and cooperation in boosting bilateral ties, and share governance experience, to make greater contributions to the healthy growth of China-Russia ties.

Melnikov, for his part, said the Russian State Duma is ready to further contribute to stronger Russia-China relations.