China, Peru vow to boost ties of their legislatures

Zhang Dejiang (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), receives a decoration awarded by President of the Peruvian Congress Ana Maria Solorzano on behalf of the Peruvian Congress after they held talks in Lima, Peru, on Nov. 21, 2014. Zhang Dejiang is in Peru for an official goodwill visit. (Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)

China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang and his Peruvian counterpart, Ana Maria Solorzano, vowed Friday to boost relations between their countries' legislatures.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said exchanges between legislatures are an important part of China-Peru relations.

Zhang said the NPC would like to work with the Peruvian Congress to strengthen communication and exchanges on state governance and the rule of law, promote practical cooperation in all fields and consolidate the foundation for bilateral relations.

For her part, Solorzano agreed with Zhang's proposal on developing legislative ties, saying Zhang's visit is significant for deepening bilateral friendship and ushers in a new stage of legislative cooperation between the two countries.

The Peruvian Congress would like to enhance regular consultations and information sharing with the NPC, expand exchanges at all levels and pave the way for bilateral practical cooperation, she said.

After the talks, Solorzano, on behalf of the Peruvian Congress, awarded Zhang a decoration.

On Saturday, Zhang had an hour-long discussion with representatives of Chinese businesses that operate in Peru, calling on the companies to grasp the opportunities and make use of their advantages, improve the scope and depth of their cooperation, consolidate the basis of mutual benefit, and make contributions to China-Peru relations as well as China-Latin America ties.

During the visit, the top Chinese legislator unveiled the China-Peru friendship hall together with Solorzano and visited a Confucius Institute at Ricardo Palma University in Lima.

Zhang arrived in Lima on Thursday, kicking off his four-day official goodwill visit.

Peru is the first leg of Zhang's ongoing nine-day Latin America tour, which will also take him to Colombia and Mexico.