Parliamentary heads of China, Benin meet in Beijing

Wu Bangguo, China's top legislator, met with Mathurin Nago, speaker of Benin's National Assembly, on Monday and called for stronger parliamentary ties between China and Benin.

"I expect the National People's Congress (NPC) of China and Benin's National Assembly to enhance exchanges on state governance and constructing democracy and law in a bid to inject vitality into China-Benin ties," Wu said in the meeting in Beijing.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC, the country's top legislature, reviewed the smooth growth of China-Benin relations since the two countries resumed diplomatic relations in 1972, citing close political interactions, remarkable economic cooperation and robust people-to-people exchanges.

China would like to work with Benin to carry out the agreements from a July meeting between the two countries' presidents and bring more benefits to the two peoples, Wu assured his visitor.

On China-Africa relations, the legislator said it is China's long-term and firm strategic choice to develop friendly relations with Africa.

China will, as always, support developing countries' solidarity and coordination and safeguard their justified rights, according to Wu.

He underscored China's commitment to new strategic partnership with Africa, featuring political equality and mutual trust, economic cooperation and common prosperity and cultural exchanges.

According to Nago, Benin regards China as a reliable friend and an example. He said his country would like to work more closely with China to advance pragmatic cooperation in all fields and increase communication on international issues in a bid to promote Africa-China friendship and build a fair and just international order.

The speaker also reaffirmed that Benin would stick to the one-China policy.