Top Chinese legislator meets Tanzanian President, Bahamas Senate President

BEIJING, Oct. 24 -- Top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang on Friday met with visiting President of Tanzania Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete and the President of the Senate of the Bahamas Sharon Wilson.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress(NPC), China's top legislature, called Kikwete the old friend of the Chinese people, hailing his important contribution to China-Tanzania relations.

As this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral relations, China would like to work with Tanzania to make bilateral partnership a paradigm of China-Africa mutual benefit and common development, Zhang said.

China will continue to help Africa's efforts to combat Ebola, Zhang said.

Zhang underscored the NPC's commitment to developing relations with the Tanzanian National Assembly, pledging to seek stronger legislative ties.

Kikwete said Tanzania would like to seek all-round collaboration with China and the Tanzanian National Assembly would like to make joint efforts with the NPC to boost bilateral ties.

In his meeting with Wilson, Zhang reviewed the sound growth of ties between China and the Bahamas since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1997.

Zhang briefed Wilson on the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th Communist Party of China(CPC) Central Committee, which was held in Beijing between Oct. 20 to 23, saying the session had set a new blueprint for rule of law in China.

Zhang said the NPC would like to work with the Parliament of the Bahamas to seek closer exchanges and provide legal support for bilateral political relations, trade and economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.

Wilson hailed the success of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee and thanked China for offering support and assistance to the Bahamas.

She pledged to seek stronger cooperation and boost bilateral relations.