Top Chinese legislator meets French PM

Zhang Dejiang (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), meets with French Prime Minister Manuel Valls in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 30, 2015. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

BEIJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- Top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang on Friday met with visiting French Prime Minister Manuel Valls.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, reviewed Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to France last April and two presidents' decision to usher in the new era of an all-round strategic partnership.

China and France held a series of events to mark their 50-year-long diplomatic ties last year, which Zhang called "a new chapter in bilateral exchange".

The NPC would like to keep close cooperation with the French parliament, make use of regular exchange mechanisms and friendship groups, increase exchanges on legislation, create good environment to promote pragmatic cooperation and two-way travel so as to seek the growth of China-France ties, Zhang said.

Valls, who is on a three-day visit to China, underscored the commitment to advance all-round cooperation with China.

The French parliament would like to step up exchanges and cooperation with the NPC, boost trade and economic collaboration and people-to-people exchanges and play an important role in building ties, Valls said.

Earlier on Friday, Chinese President Xi also met with Valls, pledging to inject more political wisdom and stronger political will into building China-France ties.

Valls will conclude his China visit on Saturday.