国内英语新闻:China, Albania vow to strengthen parliamentary links

BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- Top legislator Zhang Dejiang met with Albanian Parliament speaker Ilir Meta Thursday, vowing to further deepen friendly exchanges between the legislatures of the two countries.

Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC), said Albania was a reliable friend and partner of China in Central and Eastern Europe.

Currently, bilateral relations have stepped into a track of fast development, said Zhang.

The Belt and Road initiative, as well as the deepening cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs), have brought new opportunities for China-Albania cooperation.

Zhang voiced hope that Albania would seize the opportunity, align its development strategy with China, and actively participate in regional economic cooperation, to transform the two sides' sound political relations into the tangible outcome of pragmatic cooperation.

The NPC is willing to work with Albanian Assembly to strengthen experience-sharing on state governance and develop the bilateral friendship, to push forward in-depth development of bilateral ties, said Zhang.

Meta said it was the consensus of all sectors of Albanian society to develop friendly relations with China.

The friendship between the two countries provides a good foundation for mutually beneficial cooperation, he said, adding that the Albanian Assembly is ready to enhance exchanges and cooperation with the NPC.