Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L) shakes hands with President of Romania's senate Mircea Geoana in Bucharest, Romania, Oct. 19, 2009. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Monday held separate talks with Mircea Geoana, speaker of Romania's Senate, and Roberta Anastase, speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of Romania.

During his meeting with Geoana, Xi said the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Romania 60 years ago was a milestone in the development of bilateral relations.

Despite the changing international situation the two peoples have always respected each other, treated each other equally and valued each other's interests and concerns during the past six decades, Xi said.

The history of the friendly exchanges between the two countries in the past 60 years indicates that the two peoples are reliable all-weather friends and all-around partners, he said.

Xi said his visit is aimed at taking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Romania as a new starting point to consolidate friendship, deepen cooperation and push forward China-Romania relations in the next 60 years.

Geoana said that Xi's visit to Romania on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of Romania-China relations is of great importance and will definitely promote the development of the all-round friendly cooperative partnership between the two countries and lift the bilateral ties to a new height.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L) meets with President of Romania's senate Mircea Geoana in Bucharest, Romania, Oct. 19, 2009. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

All Romanian political factions are highly consistent in developing Romania-China relations and are willing to strengthen the all-round pragmatic cooperation with China, he said, noting that the Romanian parliament is ready to make contributions in this respect.

During his meeting with Anastase, Xi said China-Romania relations have maintained steady development since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 60 years ago.

China highly appreciates Romania's support on major issues relating to Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang which concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said.

The recent years have witnessed frequent exchanges of high-level visits, growing political mutual trust, fruitful economic and trade cooperation, and various cultural and educational exchanges, he added.

China highly values the bilateral friendly relations with Romania and expects to work with Romania to expand their pragmatic cooperation and push the bilateral ties to a new height, Xi said.

Anastase said that the past 60 years have seen frequent exchanges between the two countries' parliaments.

The Romanian parliament hopes to further strengthen exchanges with China's National People's Congress and is ready to help promote economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, she said.

Both Geoana and Anastase reaffirmed that the Romanian parliament would never change its stand on the one-China policy.

The Chinese vice president arrived here on Sunday on an official visit to Romania, which was the last leg of his five-nation European tour. 

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (L) meets with Romanian Chamber of Deputies Speaker Roberta Anastase in Bucharest, Romania, Oct. 19, 2009. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (R, front) meets with Romanian Chamber of Deputies Speaker Roberta Anastase in Bucharest, Romania, Oct. 19, 2009. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)