WELLINGTON, April 16 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisory body and New Zealand House of Representatives on Monday pledged to further enhance their exchanges and cooperation in a bid to promote the relations between the two countries.
The pledge came out of a meeting between Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and Lockwood Smith, speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives during Jia's visit in Wellington, the capital city.
"It is an important task of the CPPCC to strengthen communication and mutual understanding and friendship with peoples around the world," Jia said.
The CPPCC will enhance exchanges and cooperation with the New Zealand House of Representatives, learn from each other's experience in national governance and make positive contribution to their national construction and the all-round relationship of cooperation between the two countries, he added.
Sharing Jia's views, Smith said the House of Representatives is willing to continue to play a constructive role in promoting New Zealand-China ties.
Jia, conveying China's top legislator Wu Bangguo's greetings for Smith, spoke highly of the role Smith played in enhancing New Zealand's relations and cooperation with China.
China has always attached great importance to its ties with New Zealand, considering it a good friend and partner for cooperation in Asia-Pacific region, Jia said.
He said China will take the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to work with New Zealand to further deepen their cooperation in trade, agriculture, clean energy and disaster prevention and reduction, and promote their bilateral ties on the basis of equality, mutual respect and mutual benefits.
China is ready to make its ties with New Zeanland an example of peaceful co-existence between countries with different political systems, cultural backgrounds and at different development stages, Jia said.
Smith stressed the importance of ties with China for New Zealand, and spoke highly of the role of bilateral cooperation for New Zealand's fight against global financial crisis.
Jia arrived here Monday afternoon for a four-day official good- will visit to New Zealand.