The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) increased exchanges with foreign parliaments, adding new contents to state-to-state relations and enhancing the mutual trust, common understanding and mutual cooperation with other countries.

These remarks were made by NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo when reporting the work of the NPC standing committee to the NPC annual session  in Beijing Wednesday.

In 2003, The NPC Standing Committee received 18 foreign parliamentary delegations and sent Chinese NPC delegation to almost 20 foreign countries.

Meanwhile, the top legislature brought into depth the relationship with parliaments of the United States, Russia, the European Union, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries. It also increased exchanges with international and regional parliamentary organizations.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2004)