BEIJING - Chinese top legislator Zhang Dejiang met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday and they agreed to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said during the meeting that China and India were close neighbors, enjoying a history of friendly contact.

"The two countries have enhanced communication and achieved cooperative results in various fields," Zhang said, adding that beneficial cooperation and friendly contacts between the two populous nations benefitted the two peoples and brought peace and stability to the world and the region.

Noting that the NPC has positive channels of communication and cooperation with Lok Sabha (the lower house of Indian Parliament), Zhang said the NPC is willing to promote the China-India strategic cooperative partnership through its communication with Lok Sabha and advance pragmatic cooperation, strengthening the friendship between the peoples.

Singh said bilateral relationship was maturing and noted that the two countries were partners rather than rivals.

He said close communication between the two countries' legislative bodies had greatly advanced ?bilateral ties and the two sides should increase exchanges to build a brighter future.