Sheng Huaren, vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, met with US senator Mark Dayton in Beijing Thursday.

Sheng said the exchange mechanism between the NPC and the US House of Senate held a second working session this June in Washington, which has helped to increase the understanding and mutual trust and expanded consensus.

The working session had made in a lot of positive progress, further consolidated and enriched the content of bilateral dialogue, and played a positive role in promoting Sino-US constructive cooperative ties, he said.

Sheng also expressed his appreciation for Dayton's efforts to this end.

Dayton said US-China parliamentary exchanges are very important. It is his second China trip since he visited the country in April 2003 amid SARS outbreak, he added.

He expressed his admiration for the tremendous achievements China has made under the guidance of the leadership. He said he will continue to be committed to promoting US-China parliamentary exchanges and the friendship between the people of the two nations.

(Xinhua News Agency August 5, 2005)