BEIJING, Jan. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- The Chinese legislative body attaches importance to developing its relations with the Mauritianparliament and desires to further promote bilateral cooperation, said Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo here Tuesday.

    "The National People's Congress (NPC) of China has long maintained friendly cooperation with its Mauritian counterpart. This has played an active role in promoting the state-to-state relations, deepening friendship of the two peoples and expanding bilateral economic cooperation and trade," said Wu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, at a meeting with visiting Mauritian Prime Minister Paul Raymond Berenger.

    Wu said that the Sino-Mauritian relations have developed smoothly since the two countries forged diplomatic ties and they have maintained mutual trust and sound economic cooperation.

    He expressed appreciation for Mauritius' adherence to the one-China policy.

    Berenger said Mauritius is satisfied with the current relationship with China and feels confident for the future development of bilateral ties.

    He mentioned the China visit by Dev Ramnah, speaker of the National Assembly of Mauritius, in 2003, saying it achieved good results.

    He believed the friendly exchanges between the Mauritian parliament and China's NPC would promote the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and their people.