China, Bahamas pledge closer legislative ties
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China and the Bahamas Wednesday agreed to step up exchanges and cooperation between their legislative bodies.
Top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo met with President of the Senate Lynn Holowesko and Speaker of the House of Assembly Alvin Smith of the Bahamian parliament at the Great Hall of the People Wednesday.
Wu, Chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, the country's top legislature, recalled his visit to the Bahamas last year, saying he was deeply impressed by the country.
China was satisfied with its ties with the Bahamas, Wu said, citing frequent high-level visits, deep political trust, growing trade, frequent people-to-people exchanges and good coordination in international affairs.
Wu said China would like to work more closely with the Bahamas on infrastructure, finance, travel, agriculture and new energy and raising overall relations.
The NPC would like to maintain high-level visits with the Bahamian parliament, expand the exchanges among specialized commissions and strengthen the understanding among legislators, Wu said.
Holowesko and Smith, on an eight-day visit to China, said the Bahamas was proud of having a sincere friend like China.
They pledged that the Bahamian parliament would deepen relations with the NPC, boost cooperation in trade, economy, new energy and tourism so as to advance bilateral relations.
On Tuesday, Wu also met with Bahamas Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham, who was leading a delegation to Beijing before travelling to Shanghai for the World Expo, which will conclude on Oct. 31.
It was the first simultaneously visit of three senior leaders of the Bahamas to China since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1997.
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