国内英语新闻:Parliamentary leaders pledge to promote Sino-Swiss ties

BERN, SWITZERLAND, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Parliamentary leaders of China and Switzerland on Saturday exchanged views on bilateral ties, parliamentary exchanges and mutual concerns and agreed on closer exchanges between legislative bodies of the two nations for better Sino-Swiss ties.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), expressed satisfaction over the significant progress in Sino-Swiss relationship during the recent years at a meeting with Pascale Bruderer, president of the National Council of Swiss Federal Assembly, and Erika Forster- Vannini, president of the Council of States of Swiss Federal Assembly.

The development of Sino-Swiss relationship has brought substantial interests to both people and China looks forward to working together with Switzerland to further develop the comprehensive friendship and mutual-beneficial cooperation, Wu said. Switzerland is China's main trade partner in Europe and a major source of foreign investment and technology and China is Switzerland's second largest trade partner in Asia.

Wu Bangguo (C), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, meets with Pascale Bruderer (R), president of the National Council of the Swiss Federal Assembly, and Erika Forster-Vannini (L), president of the Council of States of the Swiss Federal Assembly, in Bern on July 17, 2010.

Wu appealed that both sides should properly deal with sensitive issues between the two nations to maintain the momentum of the Sino-Swiss relationship. He suggested that China and Switzerland should take more actions to continuously deepen mutual political trust, expand economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

The friendly exchange and cooperation between legislative bodies of China and Switzerland will help promote an all-round development of the bilateral ties and are in interest of both people, Wu said.

The NPC will work together with the National Council of Swiss Federal Assembly and the Council of States of Swiss Federal Assembly to conduct various exchanges between the two nations' legislative bodies, he added.

Bruderer and Vannini said Wu's visit will further promote the Sino-Swiss ties and offer an opportunity for more exchanges between the two nations' legislative bodies. They agreed to conduct closer parliamentary exchanges with China.

A further development of Swiss-Chinese ties is interest of Swiss government, legislative bodies and people. The legislative bodies of Swiss will positively push forward the substantial cooperation with China in all areas, they said.