China, Serbia agree to cement parliamentary exchanges

China and Serbia agreed in Beijing on Monday to boost parliamentary exchanges and share experience in governance, the development of democracy and rule of law.

The agreement was reached in the talks between China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang and visiting Serbian National Assembly Speaker Maja Gojkovic.

They signed a protocol on setting up a cooperation committee from members of both countries' legislative bodies.

China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang meets with visiting Serbian National Assembly Speaker Maja Gojkovic in Beijing, on Nov. 27, 2017. [Photo: Xinhua]

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, said the protocol is a new platform for bilateral cooperation and boosting exchanges between legislative bodies.

He called on closer parliamentary exchanges among various levels, to consolidate political foundation for bilateral ties.

Zhang encouraged legislative bodies to offer more consistent and reliable policies and legal environment for China-Serbia cooperation, and step up cultural exchanges and local cooperation.

He recalled the exchange of state visits between the two countries' state leaders, adding China is ready to work with Serbia to implement leaders' consensus, combine development strategies, deepen win-win cooperation and build a better future for both countries and peoples.

Gojkovic, in her turn, congratulated the success of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

She said the Serbian National Assembly hopes to make full use of the cooperation committee to cement parliamentary exchanges and bilateral friendship at the new stage.

China's top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng also met with Gojkovic earlier on Monday. Yu, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said the CPPCC expects to enhance exchanges and cooperation with the Serbian National Assembly, to boost sustained and stable growth of bilateral ties.

Gojkovic is visiting China from Nov. 25 to Dec. 1.