China's top legislator meets Portuguese president

Top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang meets with Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Friday, May 16, 2014.  [Photo/Xinhua]

BEIJING - Top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang and Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva on Friday vowed to enhance the two countries' parliamentary exchanges in their meeting at the Great Hall of the People.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislative body, spoke highly of the talk between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cavaco Silva, saying it has given direction to the future development of China-Portugal relations.

He urged the NPC and Portuguese parliament to promote friendly communication of all levels, share experience on urbanization, coordinated development of all areas and governance capacity, and provide legal guarantees for the two countries' trade and cultural cooperation.

Cavaco Silva hailed the development of Portugal-China relations since they established bilateral ties 35 years ago. He said the Portuguese parliament was ready to conduct exchanges and communication with China's NPC to promote the development of ties.

Cavaco Silva is here for a week-long state visit, which started on Monday, at the invitation of Xi. Prior to his arrival in Beijing, he visited eastern China's economic hub of Shanghai. His trip will also take him to Macao.