Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with President of the Republic of Colombia Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 25, 2023. [Xinhua/Liu Weibing]

BEIJING -- Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, met with President of the Republic of Colombia Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego in Beijing on Wednesday.

Zhao said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, China-Colombia relations have been moving forward steadily regardless of changes in the international situation.

China always views bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term perspective, and stands ready to work with Colombia to push for the sustained and in-depth development of bilateral relations, Zhao said.

The NPC is willing to work with the Colombian Congress to enhance the exchange of experience on state governance with a view to providing a legal guarantee for the development of bilateral relations and promoting practical cooperation, he said.

China is ready to strengthen cooperation with Colombia on international affairs to firmly safeguard the common interests of developing countries, Zhao added.

Noting that Colombia and China enjoy a profound, longstanding friendship, and that their bilateral cooperation is highly complementary, Petro said that Colombia is willing to deepen cooperation with China in various fields and open up a new future for the development of bilateral relations.

Colombia supports a series of important initiatives put forward by China and is willing to work with China to tackle global challenges such as climate change, he added. 

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with President of the Republic of Colombia Gustavo Francisco Petro Urrego in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 25, 2023. [Xinhua/Liu Weibing]