China and Serbia and Montenegro on Friday agreed to improve parliamentary exchanges in a bid to further increase their political and economic cooperation.

"Exchanges and cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries play a unique role in boosting bilateral relations. The Chinese National People's Congress (NPC) hopes to improve cooperation with Serbia and Montenegro 's parliament in various fields and different levels to make fresh contributions to the growth of bilateral relations," said Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, in a meeting with Serbia and Montenegro's parliament speaker Zoran Sami.

Sami, who is paying a six-day visit to China, responded that he hoped his visit would improve understanding between the two parliaments and the two countries and create more opportunities tofurther bilateral cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields.

The two sides also agreed that China and Serbia and Montenegro have no outstanding political disputes.

"There is no pending political problems between us. Improving friendly cooperation between us accords with the fundamental interests of our two countries and their peoples," acknowledged Wu.

Wu went on to say that both countries and the world have undergone many changes over the past decade. But the relations between China and Serbia and Montenegro, which are based on mutual trust and mutual benefit, have maintained continuous, steady development.

China is eager to expand cooperation with Serbia and Montenegro in economic, trade, scientific, educational and cultural fields and improve consultation and coordination in international affairs, Wu said.

Sami said Serbia and Montenegro always values its relations with China and is paying close attention to China's development.

He said the two countries shared same or similar views on many international issues. He also stressed his country's support to the one-China policy.

Sami is in China as guest of Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body. Besides Beijing, he will also travel to Xi'an and Shanghai.

(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2005)