Top legislator Wu Bangguo met in Beijing Thursday with a delegation of the Party of European Socialists, led by party President Poul Nyrup Rasmussen.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), said the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and the EU has developed rapidly in recent years with the gradual establishment of mechanisms for bilateral cooperation in politics, economy, science, technology and culture.

"Develop the China-EU ties will not only benefit the two sides, but also help maintain world peace and development," he said.

Wu also expressed his appreciation to the European party for its positive role in promoting China-EU relations and said that the Communist Party of China (CPC) is ready to further its ties with the Party of European Socialists and its member parties.

Rasmussen said the EU and China are seeing more common interests under the new international situation.

He said his party attaches great importance to relations with the CPC and wants to enhance dialogue and exchanges between the two parties to jointly push forward the development of China-EU relations.

(Xinhua News Agency November 4, 2005)