Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo arrived in Sofia Friday on a two-day official good-will visit aimed at promoting bilateral ties between China and Bulgaria.

Sino-Bulgarian relations, based on the principle of mutual respect and mutual benefit, have developed smoothly since the establishment of diplomatic ties 55 years ago, said Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress, in a statement upon his arrival.

In recent years, the development of bilateral ties has gained momentum due to frequent exchanges of high-level visits. The two sides have established a solid mechanism of mutual political trust and support in cooperation in various fields, Wu noted.

China is willing to consolidate and deepen the mutual understanding and the existing cooperative ties with Bulgaria in various fields, in an effort to achieve common development, he said.

During his visit, Wu will meet Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov, Chairman of the National Assembly Ognyan Gerdjikov and Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to exchange views on issues of mutual concern and ways to push forward bilateral ties.

Wu arrived from St. Petersburg after wounding up a visit to Russia, the first leg of his four-nation tour, which will also take him to Denmark and Norway.

(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2004)