China's top legislator Zhao Leji held talks with Speaker of Zambia's National Assembly Nelly Mutti in Beijing on Wednesday to discuss relations between their two countries, including cooperation and exchange between the legislative bodies of the two countries.
During the talks, Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, recalled that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema had a successful meeting on the sidelines of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in September, and made important strategic guidance on future development of bilateral relations, adding that the two heads of state on Tuesday exchanged congratulatory messages on the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
China is ready to work with Zambia to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to closely align the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with Zambia's eighth national development plan, so as to build an even closer China-Zambia community with a shared future, Zhao said.
Noting that exchanges and cooperation between the legislative bodies of China and Zambia are an important part of the friendly relations between the two countries, Zhao said the NPC is willing to strengthen exchanges with Zambia's National Assembly, and contribute to the development of China-Zambia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
He said the two countries need to continue deepening political mutual trust and further consolidating the political foundation of bilateral relations.
He thanked Zambia for its firm support for China on issues concerning China's core interests and major concerns.
Zhao said that based on the functions and responsibilities of legislative bodies, the two sides should expand practical cooperation, properly communicate and coordinate with each other on policy information, laws and regulations, and promote promulgation and revision of the relevant legal documents.
The two sides should actively promote international cooperation and strengthen coordination and cooperation within the framework of multilateral mechanisms such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and jointly implement the outcomes of the FOCAC summit in Beijing to ensure early harvests, he said.
Noting that under the guidance of the two heads of state, bilateral relations have been elevated to comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, Mutti said China has always stood by Zambia and is a good and trustworthy partner.
Zambia's National Assembly is willing to strengthen friendly exchanges with the NPC, further give play to the role of the bilateral friendship group, and play the positive role as a legislative body in promoting in-depth development of bilateral relations, she said.
At the invitation of Zhao, Mutti is leading a delegation to visit China from Oct 25 to 31.