It is to the greater benefits of the peoples in both China and Canada should the two governments make concerted efforts to promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations and further enhance cooperation, visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said in Ottawa Monday.

During his meeting with Noel A. Kinsella, Speaker of Canada's Senate, Yang spoke highly of the two country's past efforts in advancing relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1970 and hoped more could be done to further enhance bilateral ties.

The successful meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper in July 2008 on the sidelines of the outreach session of the Group of Eight (G8) summit added more vigor in the enhancement of Sino-Canadian relations, Yang added.

Yang said China and Canada, being important nations of the Asia- Pacific region, share broad interests as well as great potential of bilateral cooperation in every field. Both governments are therefore obliged to devote more efforts to furthering this friendly relationship so as to better tap on this potential for the interests of both peoples.

China would work with Canada to handle bilateral relationship from a strategic height and long-term perspective, continuously strengthen bilateral dialogue and communications, respect each other's benefits and concerns and properly handle sensitive bilateral issues so as to guarantee a healthy and smooth development of ties in the future, Yang said.

Kinsella agreed with Yang's comments on bilateral relations and shared Yang's calling for stronger ties while reiterating his understanding and support for the "One-China policy".

He also pledged to advance the good relations between the legislatures of both countries, while stressing the importance of closer communications between young people of the two countries.

The speaker appreciated the constructive role that China has been playing in seeking diplomatic solution of regional conflicts and praised China for deploying navy forces to the waters off the Somali coast to fight the pirates.

Yang Jiechi arrived in Ottawa Sunday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of his Canadian counterpart Lawrence Cannon.

(Xinhua News Agency June 23, 2009)