Azerbaijan's top lawmaker held talks with visiting senior Chinese lawmaker Xu Jialu in Baku on Friday and both sides expressed the hope to enhance cooperation between their parliaments.

Ogtay Asadov, chairman of the national assembly of Azerbaijan, said parliamentary exchanges, which form an important part of bilateral ties, will help promote cooperation in all areas between the two countries. He said Azerbaijan would like to maintain high-level exchanges with China.

Xu, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said that bilateral relations have been developing smoothly since the two countries established diplomatic ties.

"Azerbaijan is an important friend of China in the Caucasus area," Xu said.

"China is grateful to Azerbaijan for rendering firm support to China on the Taiwan question and other issues," Xu noted, adding that China is willing to maintain high-level exchanges with Azerbaijan.

Later in the day, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also met with Xu.

Aliyev said that as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China is playing a more and more important role in the world.

"The two sides may further expand exchanges and cooperation in politics, economy, trade, culture, technology and local affairs to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples and lay an increasingly solid foundation for the development of bilateral relations," the president said.

Xu is paying a four-day visit to Azerbaijan.

(Xinhua News Agency October 14, 2006 )