BEIJING, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Zhou Yongkang met with the Deputy Chairman of Sudan's ruling National Congress Party, Nafi'a Ali Nafi'a, hours before the Beijing Paralympics was to end on Wednesday evening.

    Zhou, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, appreciated the support the Sudanese government and people offered to the Beijing Olympics and Paralympics.

    In response, Nafi'a, also Sudanese presidential assistant, congratulated China on great successes of both the Olympics and Paralympics.

    Nafi'a was the highest-ranking Sudanese official set to attend the closing ceremony of the Paralympics.

    While reviewing China-Sudan ties, Zhou said: "The two peoples have always been sincere to each other since the two countries forged bilateral ties in 1959."

    Zhou said China would like to work more closely with Sudan, carry out the consensus reached by the two heads of states and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation.

    Nafi'a hailed the important role Sudan-China cooperation had played in boosting Sudan's economy and ensuring its social stability.

    During talks in the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing, Zhou and Nafi'a also agreed to step up cooperation between their parties.