HAVANA, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo and his Cuban counterpart Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada on Wednesday pledged continued efforts to push forward bilateral relations and cement cooperation between the parliaments of the two countries.

    Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislative body, held talks in Havana with Alarcon, president of the Cuban National Assembly of People's Power (CNAPP).

Wu Bangguo (L), chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, shakes hands with Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada, president of the Cuban National Assembly of People's Power, after their talks in Havana, capital of Cuba, Sept. 2, 2009. Wu Bangguo held talks with Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada in Havana on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) Photo Gallery>>>

    At their talks, both Wu and Alarcon spoke highly of the development of bilateral relations in recent years.

    The two parties, two countries and their peoples have all along supported each other and offered mutual understanding, Wu noted, adding that their bilateral relationship has entered a new phase of all-round development.

    There have been frequent exchanges of top-level visits and mutual political trust has been growing steadily, Wu said. Trade and economic cooperation is being expanded, with a number of new major cooperation projects between the two countries under way, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, he said.

Wu Bangguo (L2), chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, holds talks with Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada (R2), president of the Cuban National Assembly of People's Power, in Havana, capital of Cuba, Sept. 2, 2009. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng) Photo Gallery>>>

    China appreciates Cuba's support on major issues concerning China's core interests and will, as always, support Cuba in its just struggle to safeguard its national sovereignty and oppose outside interference, Wu said.

    The friendly exchanges between the NPC and CNAPP are an important component of the overall bilateral relationship, Wu noted. He expressed the hope that his current visit would help further promote the relations between the two parliaments.

    Wu also suggested that exchanges and cooperation between the two parliaments' ad hoc committees as well as various amity groups should be further strengthened and that the two countries should also enhance their coordination and cooperation in international and regional parliamentary groups.

    Alarcon stressed the importance of Cuba's relations with China and said Cuba firmly supports China's efforts to achieve national reunification.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, and Ricardo Alarcon de Quesada, president of the Cuban National Assembly of People's Power, attend the signing ceremony of bilateral cooperation documents after their talks in Havana, capital of Cuba, Sept. 2, 2009.  (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) Photo Gallery>>>

    Cuba is ready to strengthen friendly exchanges and pragmatic cooperation with China in all fields and at various levels for the benefit of the two peoples and in the interest of world peace and development, Alarcon said.

    After the talks, the two leaders attended a signing ceremony for eight cooperation agreements, including the one on economic and technological cooperation between the two countries.

    Wu arrived in Havana on Tuesday. Cuba is the first leg of his three-nation American tour that will also take him to the Bahamas and the United States.

Special Report: Top Legislator Wu Visits Cuba, the Bahamas, U.S.