Visiting top legislator Wu Bangguo said in Wellington Thursday that the friendly relations between China and New Zealand have become more mature. 

During a meeting with Margaret Wilson, speaker of New Zealand's House of Representatives, Wu also called for efforts to further strengthen the friendly exchanges between the parliaments of the two countries.

Wu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, is currently on an official goodwill visit to New Zealand, the third leg of his four-nation Asia-Pacific tour.

The friendly relations between the two countries based on the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit have become more and more mature, and face new opportunities for development, said Wu.

Developing bilateral relations of long-term friendship conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples and is also conducive to peace and development in the Asia-Pacific region, he said.

The purpose of his visit is to further promote bilateral relations, including the relationship between the NPC and New Zealand's parliament, Wu said.

Wilson said strengthened exchanges between the parliaments of the two countries are important to the development of relations between the two countries.

The NPC is ready for enhanced exchanges between the two parliaments, their leaders and the ad hoc committees and amity groups, Wu said, adding that the parliaments of the two countries should also strengthen their consultation and cooperation in international and regional parliamentary organizations.

Earlier on Thursday, Wu also held talks with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Wu will leave Saturday for Malaysia, the last leg of his current four-nation tour. He had already visited Singapore and Australia.

(Xinhua News Agency May 27, 2005)