国内英语新闻:China's top legislator holds video talks with Indonesian counterpart

BEIJING, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- China and Indonesia can enhance parliamentary cooperation in fields such as containing COVID-19, boosting bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and advocating international peace and development, China's top legislator Li Zhanshu said here Thursday.

Li, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, made the remarks during video talks with Indonesian Speaker of the House of Representatives Puan Maharani.

Noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic ties, Li said China is willing to take this as an opportunity to step up all-around pragmatic cooperation, focus on the joint fight against COVID-19, and promote the comprehensive strategic partnership of the two countries.

The two sides should deepen cooperation in such fields as pandemic containment supplies, technology and medicines, support Chinese and Indonesian enterprises to work for vaccine development and production, and jointly oppose politicization and stigmatization of the pandemic, Li said.

He said the Chinese legislative institutions are ready to maintain close communication, share experiences in state governance and enhance mutual learning with their Indonesian counterparts.

He also said the two countries should promote the healthy and balanced development of bilateral trade, and ensure the construction of key cooperation projects.

In addition to infrastructure, the two sides should strengthen cooperation in agriculture, fishery, small and medium enterprises, the internet, artificial intelligence and the digital economy, as well as areas concerning people's livelihood such as medical care, health, culture and education.

Li called on the two sides to uphold multilateralism and jointly build a closer community with a shared future for China and the ASEAN and for humanity.

Noting that the two countries' pragmatic cooperation has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples, Puan said the Indonesian House of Representatives is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China's NPC and contribute to the development of bilateral ties.