China's top legislator Wu Bangguo on Wednesday urged China and Brazil to develop a closer relationship during talks with Brazil's Federal Senate leader Renan Calheiros.

Wu said China and Brazil have enjoyed good relations over the past 32 years and there remains great potential for them to intensify cooperation. 

"First of all, both China and Brazil attach great importance to the balanced development of economy and society," he said, adding that the two countries could learn from each other's experiences in reaching such targets. 

Second, China and Brazil are burgeoning markets and their economies are highly complementary, an ideal condition for further economic and trade cooperation. 

Third, as developing nations, China and Brazil share broad common interests and have the same or similar views on many key international and regional issues. 

He said he hopes the two countries will handle bilateral ties with a strategic perspective, continue with high-level visits, improve political trust and intensify pragmatic cooperation for the mutual benefit of their peoples, and global harmony and prosperity.

On parliamentary exchanges, Wu said despite their different social systems, China and Brazil have their sights set on developing democratic legal systems. 

He said China's NPC hopes to enhance ties with Brazil's Federal Senate, to share experiences in lawmaking and supervision, and improve coordination and cooperation in international and regional parliamentary organizations. 

Calheiros said the Federal Senate is ready to improve exchanges and cooperation with the NPC to jointly promote the comprehensive development of bilateral ties. 

He also expressed his belief that Wu's visit will have significant impact on the development of China-Brazil strategic partnership. 

Before meeting with Calheiros, Wu held talks with Aldo Rebelo, president of Brazil's Chamber of Deputies. He was scheduled to meet with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio and Vice President Jose Alencar later on Wednesday. 

Brazil is the first leg of Wu's three-nation tour of Latin America. He will also visit Uruguay and Chile.

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2006)