Senior Chinese legislator Cheng Siwei Monday met with New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, calling for concerted efforts to promote the constructive and cooperative ties between China and the United States.

Healthy and stable development of China-U.S. ties not only accords with the fundamental interests of the two countries and their people, and also is conducive to the world peace, stability and prosperity, said Cheng, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature.

Cheng said China is ready to continuously expand common interests with the U.S. and enhance dialogue, mutual trust and cooperation, to promote the development of constructive and cooperative ties between the two countries.

Bloomberg hailed China's amazing changes and great success, saying China is playing a more and more important role in the world arena.

Besides bilateral relations, the two also exchanged views on such issues of population, poverty, trade, stock market, housing, environment and energy, according to the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, who invited Bloomberg to visit China.

(Xinhua News Agency December 11, 2007)