BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) -- China hoped to work with Romania to expand friendly exchanges and increase cooperation in economic and trade affairs and other sectors, said top legislator Wu Bangguo Tuesday.

    Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, made the remarks when meeting with Mircea Geoana, the visiting president of Romania's senate.

    "We hope the two nations would take the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties this year as an opportunity to achieve faster and better growth of bilateral ties," Wu said.

    Hailing the Sino-Romanian traditional friendship, Wu said the two nations had always shared mutual understanding and support in issues concerning each other's core interests.

    President Hu Jintao visited Romania in 2004.

    China and Romania, in recent years, enjoyed more high-level exchanges, increasing mutual political trust, fruitful economic cooperation and close coordination in international affairs, Wu noted.

    Wu said the NPC valued friendly cooperation with Romania's parliament and was ready to maintain high-level exchanges.

    Wu encouraged the NPC and the Romanian parliament to increase cooperation in multilateral channels to help promote Sino-Romanian ties.

    Geoana said the bilateral relationship was of great importance. The government, parliament and all political parties of Romania shared a common position on promoting relations with China.

    He also said his senate expected to expand cooperation with China's NPC.

    Wang Gang, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, also met with Geoana Tuesday.

Wang Gang (L), vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), shakes hands with Mircea Geoana, president of Romania's senate, during their meeting in Beijing, China, June 23, 2009. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo) Photo Gallery>>>