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Zhang Dejiang (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), holds talks with Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed, speaker of the People's Majlis, the legislative body of the Maldives, in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 7, 2016. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
BEIJING, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang Wednesday called on China and the Maldives to strengthen alignment of development strategies within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), made the call when meeting Abdulla Maseeh Mohamed, speaker of the People's Majlis, the legislative body of the Maldives.
The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, has provided new opportunity for China-Maldives cooperation, Zhang said, calling on the two sides to implement existing cooperative projects and seek new ways of cooperation.
During Xi's visit to the Maldives in 2014, the two countries agreed to establish a future-focused friendly and cooperative partnership, said Zhang, commending the remarkable progress made by the two sides on the economy and trade, infrastructure, tourism, people's livelihoods and local affairs.
Next year marks the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties between the two countries. Zhang said that China will continue to work with the Maldives to expand mutually beneficial cooperation and push for greater development of bilateral relations.
The NPC attaches great importance to developing friendly relations with the People's Majlis, said Zhang, adding that the two sides should enhance cooperation in legislation and increase the sharing of experience on state governance.
Maseeh said Maldives-China relations can serve as a model of relations between small and big countries.
Developing mutually beneficial cooperation with China meets the desires of the government, parliament and people of the Maldives, he said.
He said the People's Majlis is willing to work with the NPC to enhance friendly exchanges and support bilateral pragmatic cooperation, so as to better serve the two countries and their people.
