China, Europe's top legislators meet

Zhang Dejiang (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, meets with Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March. 16, 2015. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang and President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz on Monday pledged to strengthen cooperation to promote the China-Europe relations.

Speaking of the the European Parliament's role in EU decision making, Zhang said the National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliamentary body, is ready to promote the development of the China-EU partnership.

Zhang, the NPC Standing Committee chairman, called on the two sides to make full use of regular exchange mechanism and increase communication and dialogue.

Zhang said the development of relationship between China and EU has leaped forward in the past 40 years of their diplomatic ties, hoping that the two sides will make more efforts to support each other and achieve progress together.

Zhang also hoped that practical parliamentary cooperation could support China and EU to reach agreement on bilateral cooperation and approve it, and provide legal guarantee for facilitating people-to-people exchanges.

Schulz echoed Zhang, saying the parliament is willing to further enhance high-level engagement and exchanges of all levels to jointly cope with challenges and promote EU-China relations.

Schulz is the first parliamentary leader to visit China since the conclusion of the NPC annual session on Sunday, as well as the first EU leader to visit China after the change of EU leadership.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and State Councilor Yang Jiechi also met with Schulz on Monday.