China cherishes the friendly cooperation with Colombia and is willing to make joint efforts with it to promote the relationship, said visiting Chinese top national advisor Jia Qinglin on Monday.

While meeting with Colombian Congress President and Senate President Luiz Gomez Gallo, Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said the bilateral relations have developed smoothly since the two countries established diplomatic ties 25 yeas ago.

Colombia has become China's important trading partner in Latin- America, and the bilateral trade volume reached over 800 million US dollars last year, a 75.5-percent increase over the previous year, Jia said.

China highly appreciates Colombia's one-China policy and support on other issues where China's fundamental interests lie, Jia said.

China attaches great importance to the development of friendly cooperation with Colombia, Jia said, noting what needs to be done now is to implement the common understanding reached by leaders of the two countries.

Jia said China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Colombia in economic and trade areas for a win-win outcome and push the bilateral relations to a new high.

The Chinese leader also introduced China's multi-party cooperation and political consultation system under the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the important role the CPPCC is playing in the national political life and in strengthening friendship between peoples of China and the world.

Jia said the CPPCC is willing to boost its exchanges with the Colombian congress, make contribution to consolidating the friendship between the two peoples and promote the all-round development of bilateral ties.

Gomez said the Colombian government and congress are satisfied with the smooth development of Colombia-China relations, pledging Colombia will implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries and strengthen the mutually beneficial cooperation, especially in the fields of economy and trade.

He expressed his hope that more Chinese enterprises will invest and open business in Colombia.

Gomez said Colombia will stick to the one-China policy and continue to support China's efforts to solve the Taiwan question in accordance with the principle of "one country, two systems."

The Colombian congress and the CPPCC are maintaining close contacts, Gomez said, adding that the Colombian congress is ready to enhance the exchanges and cooperation with the CPPCC to deepen the Colombia-China friendship.

In a separate meeting on Tuesday, Colombian Chamber of Representatives President Jattin Corrales also spoke highly of Colombia-China relations and expressed the same hope to boost exchanges and cooperation between Colombian congress and the CPPCC.

Jia Qinglin arrived here on Sunday for a four-day official goodwill visit to Colombia at the invitation of Colombian Congress President Luis Gomez. He is expected to leave for Uruguay on Wednesday to continue his four-nation visit to Latin-American countries.

The CPPCC is China's top advisory body, consisting of representatives of China's Communist Party, non-Communist parties, personages without party affiliation, and representatives of people's organizations, national minorities and all social strata.

The main functions of the CPPCC are to conduct political consultation, exercise democratic supervision and participate in the discussion and handling of state affairs.

Source: Xinhua