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Cao Jianming (R), vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, shakes hands with Liviu Dragnea, the speaker of Romania's Chamber of Deputies, during their meeting in Bucharest, Romania, on May 22, 2018. (Xinhua/Chen Jin)

BUCHAREST, May 22 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to boost cooperation with Romania under the frameworks of the Belt and Road Initiative and "16+1" mechanism between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, a senior Chinese legislator said on Tuesday.

Cao, vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, made the remarks during his meeting with Liviu Dragnea, the speaker of Romania's Chamber of Deputies.

Romania is an important partner of China in the European Union (EU) and in Central and Eastern Europe, Cao said.

He said that mutual trust between the two countries is solid at present, while bilateral economic and commercial cooperation, as well as people-to-people and local exchanges are progressing smoothly.

The senior legislator said that China is willing to take the opportunity of jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative and "16+1" mechanism to enhance alignment of development strategies, deepen exchanges between legislative bodies, and strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation.

Dragnea reiterated that his country attached great importance to relations with China and is willing to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative and "16+1" mechanism to continuously enrich the fruitful results of bilateral cooperation.

He said the Romanian parliament is willing to strengthen exchanges and mutual understanding with the National People's Congress of China and help the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.

Cao visited Romania from Saturday to Tuesday, during which he also met with Deputy Senate Speaker Iulian Claudiu Manda, Deputy Prime Ministers Viorel Stefan and Ana Birchall, Attorney General Augustin Lazar, and held talks with Deputy Chamber of Deputies speaker Florin Iordache.