China's top legislator meets Colombian President

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), met with visiting Colombian President Ivan Duque Marquez Wednesday.

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), meets with visiting Colombian President Ivan Duque Marquez at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 31, 2019. [Photo: Xinhua/Li Tao]

After nearly 40 years of development, China-Colombia relations now stand at a new historic starting point, Li said, stressing that mutual respect on each other's development path, as well as mutual support on issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns, feature the bilateral ties.

Li voiced his expectation that the NPC and the Colombian Congress will jointly implement the consensus reached by the two countries' presidents and facilitate parliamentary exchanges at all levels, including special committees and friendship groups.

The two sides' legislative bodies should play a positive role in boosting law-making and governance experience sharing, so as to provide support to bilateral relations, Li added.

Duque voiced his willingness to beef up Colombia's pragmatic cooperation with China and hoped parliamentary exchanges would contribute to the two countries' diplomatic relations.

Colombia will actively participate in the construction of the Belt and Road, Duque said.