China, Mexico pledge closer legislative ties

China and Mexico on Monday agreed to promote exchanges and cooperation between the legislative bodies of both countries.

The agreement was made during top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang's talks with visiting Mexican Senate President Miguel Barbosa Huerta, who is on his first visit to China.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, said that Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Mexico in June 2013, and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto's visits to China in April 2013 and November 2014, had boosted China-Mexico ties.

Zhang also recalled his visit to Mexico last November, saying he believed that cooperation between the legislative bodies will be positive.

He reaffirmed the NPC's commitment to developing friendly and cooperative ties with the Mexican Senate and Mexican Chamber of Deputies.

Zhang called on both sides to increase exchanges and experience sharing, while making best use of a dialogue forum between the two legislative bodies and to learn from each other on state governance.

Zhang proposed the legislative bodies share more information and help businesses understand each other's laws, regulations, market conditions and social customs better, as this would provide a legal guarantee for better cooperation in trade, investment, infrastructure and other fields.

Zhang called on the legislative bodies to consolidate the friendship between the two peoples, increase multilateral coordination on major international issues and safeguard common interests.

Barbosa said he wanted to step up exchanges between the legislative bodies and seek more opportunities for practical cooperation.

The Mexico congress would like to work with the NPC to make their dialogue forum a success, share more experience on state governance, promote mutually-beneficial cooperation in all fields, he said.

Barbosa will conclude his four-day China tour on Wednesday. Endi