On May 18, Chairman Wu Bangguo of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China, who was on his official goodwill visit to Romania, met with Romanian Senate Speaker Nicolae Vacaroiu in the Parliament Palace.

Wu said that Romania is the third country in the world to establish diplomatic ties with the New China. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 57 years ago, bilateral friendly relations have been developing steadily. China attaches great importance to developing ties with Romania and deems it a reliable good friend and partner. Currently, mutual political trust between both countries has been increased with sound momentum of economic and trade cooperation and to further develop bilateral relations is common aspiration of both peoples. China would like to make joint efforts with Romania to advance bilateral comprehensive friendly cooperative partnership.

Wu pointed out that parliamentary exchanges and cooperation in a broad area have an important role to play. Parliamentary exchanges have the features of being multi-level and cross-party. The NPC of China gives top priority to developing relations with the Romanian Senate and would like to strengthen exchanges between the leaders, special committees, groups of friendship and working bodies of both sides, conduct contact in the areas of legislation and supervision and inject vitality into development of bilateral relations.

Vacaroiu noted that both countries share a traditional friendship and have conducted close exchanges in the areas of politics, economy, education and culture with effective cooperation in international affairs. In recent years, the heads of state of the two countries have successfully exchanged visits, pushing for development of bilateral friendly cooperative relations. Bilateral relationship has become a model for state-to-state relations. A friend in need is a friend indeed. The Romanian government and people thank for China's disinterested assistance. It is believed that Chairman Wu's current visit will surely push for all-round development of bilateral relations. He indicated that the Romanian Senate will further strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the NPC of China and advance pragmatic cooperation in all areas.

Vice Chairman Raidi of the NPC Standing Committee and other officials attended the meeting.

On the morning of the same day, Chairman Wu's wife Zhang Ruizhen visited the Sadoveanu High School and held cordial talks with its teachers and students.