China pledges to advance legislative ties with Cape Verde

China's top legislator on Friday pledged to advance legislative ties with Cape Verde, an island nation in the Atlantic Ocean.

The pledge came out of a meeting between Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, and Basilio Mosso Ramos, president of Cape Verde's National Assembly, on Friday.

Ramos is leading a parliamentary delegation from Cape Verde to China for a week-long visit.

Wu reviewed China's ties with Cape Verde since the two countries forged diplomatic relations in 1976, saying the smooth and steady development of bilateral ties is a paradigm of China-Africa cooperation.

Politically, China and Cape Verde respect each other and support each other on issues of major concern, Wu said.

The economies of the two countries are mutually beneficial, Wu said, citing fruitful cooperation under the frameworks of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum and the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries, Wu said.

People-to-people exchanges are increasingly active, and they have become the highlight of bilateral relations, Wu said.

Wu said China would like to advance bilateral cooperation in the oceanic economy, clean energy and information technology sectors.

On the legislative front, Wu said the NPC would like to maintain friendly exchanges at all levels with Cape Verde and learn from each other on state governance, legislation and supervision.

Ramos recalled his visit to China back in the 1970s, saying he has marvelled at the great changes in China since the introduction of reform and opening up initiatives.

Ramos called for closer ties between governments, legislatures and peoples of the two countries.

He said Cape Verde expects to seek closer cooperation with China in fields such as tourism, education, fishery and infrastructure.

Earlier on Friday, Vice Chairwoman of the NPC Standing Committee Chen Zhili also met with Ramos.