Top Chinese legislator meets Dutch PM

Top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang met with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on Friday.

Zhang, chairman of China's National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, reviewed the steady growth of China-Netherlands relations and fruitful cooperation in various fields since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1972.

Zhang said the NPC places great importance on developing ties with the Dutch parliament and would like to increase friendly exchanges and share experience on democracy, legal system and state governance.

Zhang expects bilateral parliamentary ties to be a constructive force in promoting China-Netherlands relations.

Rutte said Netherlands-China relations have developed well, cooperating productively in various fields.

Rutte reviewed the friendly exchanges between the Dutch parliament and the NPC in recent years.

Rutte said Netherlands would like to promote bilateral parliamentary ties and seek a bigger growth of bilateral ties.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang also respectively met or held talks with Rutte on Friday.

Rutte will conclude his China visit on Saturday.