国内英语新闻:Top Chinese legislator meets Australian governor-general

BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang on Monday met with visiting Australian Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, reviewed the relationship between the two countries since they forged diplomatic ties in 1972, saying cooperation has picked up and relations have become more strategic and pragmatic.

Zhang reviewed Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Australia last November.

China would like to work closely with Australia to seek common ground and expand cooperation, Zhang said.

On legislative ties, Zhang called for the NPC and the Australian parliament to deepen exchanges and cooperation to make good preparations for the upcoming sixth regular meeting between the two legislative bodies.

Cosgrove, who is on his first state visit to China, hailed the growth of Australia-China ties, pledging to enhance legislative ties with China.

On Saturday, the governor-general attended the opening ceremony of the 2015 annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) in south China's Hainan Province.

Earlier Monday, Xi held talks with Cosgrove at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.