Uyunqimg, vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC), the country's legislative body, on Monday met with leaders of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

Uyunqimg, who is in Hong Kong attending the December 12-15 Hong Kong session of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organization (WTO), met with IPU President Pier Ferdinando Casini, who is also president of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy, and IPU Secretary-General Anders Johnsson.

They reached a broad consensus after exchanging views on further promoting friendly relations and cooperation between China's NPC and the IPU, as well as between the NPC and Italy.

Uyunqimg conveyed invitation from Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, to Casini to visit China.

Speaking highly of China's important role and influence in the international arena, Casini said he hoped he could visit China in the first half of 2006.

(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2005)