Chinese top political advisor Jia Qinglin met Friday with Fausto Bertinotti, general secretary of Italy's Communist Re-Establishment Party.

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said both China and Italy are countries with important regional influence and the two enjoyed smooth relations over the past 35 years with frequent high-level visits and closer cooperation in various fields.

Jia said the two countries have upgraded their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Enhanced exchanges and cooperation between the two sides not only serve the fundamental interests of the two peoples, but also benefit world peace, stability and development.

As a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), Jia said that the CPC is ready to carry out various forms of cooperation and exchanges with Italian parties, including the Communist Re-Establishment Party, to boost the healthy and stable state-to-state development.

Bertinotti said in the wake of fast pace of globalization, politicians of all countries should strengthen exchanges to jointly push the world toward multi-polarization.

He also expressed the hope that his party and the CPC would improve exchanges and mutual understanding so as to deepen the friendship between the two countries.

(Xinhua News Agency December 10, 2005)