BEIJING - China and Germany on Thursday expressed the hope to enhance cooperation so as to push bilateral relations to a new height.

The agreement came in a meeting between China's top legislator Wu Bangguo and visiting Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel on Thursday.

Wu spoke highly of the progress in bilateral relations over the past 40 years and hailed the sound momentum in current Sino-German relations, highlighting frequent high-level visits, an effective dialogue mechanism, enhanced mutual trust, substantial cooperation and deepening humanitarian exchanges.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), called on the two sides to deepen cooperation with a broader perspective and strategic height.

The NPC, China's top legislative body, will enhance exchanges with Germany's parliament so as to contribute to the growth of Sino-German relations, Wu told Merkel, who is here for a two-day visit.

Merkel said her country will boost exchanges with China in various fields and at different levels, and give full play to the role of Germany-China inter-government consultation to promote bilateral ties.

She asked the two parliaments to bolster exchanges and cooperation in a bid to further bilateral relations.

Chinese President Hu Jintao, Vice-President Xi Jinping and Vice-Premier Li Keqiang also met with Merkel on Thursday.