China's top legislator said on Sept 13 that the friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation relationship between China and Myanmar should be pushed forward, especially amid the changing international and regional situation.

Both countries are at a crucial stage of their reform and development efforts, therefore, to further deepen their traditional friendship and expand cooperation is of great significance, Wu Bangguo, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, said during a meeting with Representative to the House of Nationalities of the Myanmar Parliament U Khin Aung Myint.

Wu said that a positive Sino-Myanmar relationship is beneficial not only to the two countries, but also to the peaceful and stable development of the region. He also proposed tightened relations between the two legislatures.

Wu arrived in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar, on Sept 12 to start a visit to the country.

He is the most senior Chinese leader to visit the country in nearly a decade and the first chairman of China's NPC Standing Committee to visit Myanmar since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1950.

During the meeting, Wu said that China respects Myanmar's development path chosen by its people, and believes that the country can properly handle the various challenges it faces to maintain stability and growth.

He said that every country has the right to choose its own political system and development path, based on its conditions, history, tradition and culture.

U Khin Aung Myint said that Myanmar thinks highly of China's reform and opening-up policies, as well as of the role that China has played in international and regional issues. He said that the House of Nationalities of the Myanmar Parliament is keen to promote pragmatic cooperation between the two countries in various sectors.

Wu is scheduled to meet Speaker of the House of Representatives Thura U Shwe Mann on Sept 13 afternoon and Myanmar President U Thein Sein on Sept 14 to further exchange views on cooperation in politics, economic matters, social affairs and culture.