OTTAWA - Senate Speaker Noel A. Kinsella said Friday that Canada's parliament was willing to enhance cooperation and exchanges with the National People's Congress (NPC) of China to promote bilateral strategic partnership.

Kinsella made the remarks during his meeting with Yan Junqi, the visiting vice-chairwoman of the NPC Standing Committee.

He said both Canadian Senate and House of Commons were ready to continue to promote the healthy and steady development of bilateral ties together with China's top legislative body.

Yan, for her part, said the NPC would cooperate with its Canadian counterparts in promotion of bilateral dialogues and exchanges in various fields and levels.

Yan, also vice president of the Chinese People's Association for Peace and Disarmament, exchanged views with her host on issues of nongovernmental organizations, stressing the importance of their role in boosting relations between countries.