Jia Qinglin (R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), shakes hands with Speaker of Hungarian National Assembly Szili Katalin during their meeting in Budapest, capital of Hungary, on May 8, 2008.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BUDAPEST, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Jia Qinglin, head of China's top political advisory body, on Thursday met with Hungary's parliament speaker and put forward a package of proposals for further expanding friendship and cooperation between China and Hungary.

    Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), held talks with Szili Katalin, speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly in Budapest Thursday morning.

    During the meeting, Jia suggested that the two countries should maintain high-level contact so as to deepen political trust. The two countries should also expand trade and economic cooperation in a bid to promote common development. China will continue to encourage well-established companies to invest in Hungary. It will also adopt effective measures to increase imports from Hungary and encourage enterprises from both countries to carry out active and concrete cooperation, Jia said.

Jia Qinglin (2nd R), chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), meets with Speaker of Hungarian National Assembly Szili Katalin (2nd L) in Budapest, capital of Hungary, on May 8, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The two countries should also promote human and cultural exchanges so as to improve mutual understanding, he said. China will continue to support the development of Hungarian-Chinese bilingual schools and the Confucius School in Hungary. To mark the60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Hungary, China will hold a "China Culture Festival" in Hungary next year, said the Chinese leader.

    Jia said the CPPCC is ready to strengthen contact and exchanges with the National Assembly of Hungary by carrying out cooperation in all forms and at all levels.

    Szili agreed with Jia's views on developing bilateral links. She expressed the wish that the two countries should continue to maintain exchange of visits by high-level officials, explore the potential and new areas of economic cooperation, expand cooperation in such fields as culture, education and tourism. She said the two countries should seize the opportunity of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties to push the development of bilateral relations.

    Hungary attaches great importance to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and the Shanghai World Exposition and will actively participate in the two great events, Szili said.

    She said Hungary gives priority to its relations with China in its overall foreign policy. As a member of the European Union, Hungary is ready to make active contributions to the development of EU-China relations.