China, ROK pledge to strengthen parliamentary cooperation

China and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Tuesday pledged to strengthen parliamentary cooperation in a bid to promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties. The pledge was made during a meeting between Chinese top legislator Zhang Dejiang and vice speaker of ROK's parliament Lee Byung-suk. Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said the regular exchange mechanism between the NPC and the ROK National Assembly has played an important role in advancing communication and cooperation between the two parliamentaries. He noted that the NPC and the ROK assembly should give full play to the role of the exchange mechanism, share views on issues of common concern, enhance mutual understanding and strategic trust, expand pragmatic cooperation and implement the important agreements reached by the leaders of the two countries in June. Lee, who is in China to attend the eighth meeting of regular exchanges between the NPC and the ROK National Assembly, said the assembly is willing to enhance communication and cooperation with China's NPC and further enrich the development of bilateral relations. Zhang Ping, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the NPC, also attended the meeting.