On August 21, 2006, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Wu Bangguo met with Ian Harris, Clerk of the Australian House of Representatives, in the Great Hall of the People.

Wu congratulated on the signing of a memorandum of understanding between China's NPC and the Australian House of Representatives on establishing a regular exchange mechanism. Wu said the signing of this MOU institutionalized inter-parliamentary exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, and will help maintain the ongoing exchanges between the two sides. It is hoped that the two sides will give full play to the role of this regular exchange mechanism and make overall arrangements for the friendly exchanges between the two parliaments at all levels in a bid to earnestly push for all areas of pragmatic cooperation.

Harris said Australia attaches importance to developing its relations with China, and hopes that enhanced parliamentary exchanges will help lift bilateral friendly relations to a new level.

On the afternoon of August 20, Vice-Chairman and Secretary-General of the NPC Standing Committee Sheng Huaren held talks with Harris and both sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding between China's NPC and the Australian House of Representatives.