China will continue to promote friendship and partnership with its neighbours and work together with other Asia-Pacific countries to create a peaceful, co-operative and harmonious regional environment.

President Hu Jintao made this remark during his meeting with the heads of delegations attending the 12th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum yesterday in Beijing.

Hu spoke highly of the effective work of the forum in the 11 years since its inception, as well as the achievement of this annual meeting, which helped enhance understanding and expand areas of consensus.

The annual meeting of the forum, attended by 88 members of parliament and 150 accompanying delegates from 22 member countries as well a delegation from Brunei Darussalam which observed the proceedings. The meeting closed yesterday in Beijing after issuing a joint communique.

Top legislator Wu Bangguo said Asia Pacific countries should respect each other and seek common ground while shelving differences on political issues, push for mutually beneficial alliances and common development in the economic field and build up mutual trust and jointly safeguard peace and stability, according to the joint communique.

The parliaments of all Asia-Pacific countries, particularly the young members of parliament, should intensify exchanges in various areas to learn and benefit from each other's experience, added Wu, who is chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

Founded in 1993, the APPF is a loosely structured and non-exclusive forum of national parliamentarians who participate either as delegates of their parliaments or in a personal capacity. The Annual Meeting is the highest decision-making organ of this forum.

The annual meeting discussed political and security issues including those involving the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East, economic issues and partnership for the stability and prosperity of the region. They also discussed the future work of the forum. They adopted 25 resolutions on these issues.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone resigned from his presidency of this forum. He will continue to serve as the honourary chairman of the forum.

The annual meeting of the forum will be held in Hanoi, Viet Nam next year.

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