Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo (L) talks with Rui Rio, mayor of Porto, during their meeting in Porto, Portugal, Aug. 29, 2006. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    PORTO, Portugal, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Wu Bangguo met here on Tuesday morning with Rui Rio, mayor of Porto en route to Brazil.

    Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), said Porto and China's economic hub Shanghai have been friendly cities for 11 years and Porto has worked as an important channel for the development of China-Portugal relations.

    Wu said city-level or provincial cooperation is an important part of ties between states, which helps promote people-to-people friendship as well as economic and cultural cooperation.

    He said he believes the cooperation between Porto and China will achieve greater result with joint efforts by the two sides.

    Rio, for his part, extended his warm welcome to Wu. He said China's peaceful development is attracting worldwide attentions.

    The mayor said Wu's visit will have significant impact on the development of friendly exchanges and reciprocal cooperation between Porto and China.

    Wu was in Porto, the second largest city of Portugal, for a stopover on a trip to Brazil, Uruguay and Chile.

    The NPC chairman was scheduled to leave Porto for Brasilia, capital of Brazil, on Tuesday after his meeting with Rio. Enditem