国内英语新闻:Chinese VP meets guests from Cyprus, Bangladesh, Maldives, Russia

BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao held meetings with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and guests from Bangladesh, Maldives, Russia on Thursday in Beijing.

The guests are attending the Asian Political Parties' Special Conference on the Silk Road held by the Communist Party of China (CPC), which opened here on Wednesday.

When met with Anastasiades, Li said China is willing to expand friendly exchanges with the major political parties in Cyprus to jointly consolidate the traditional friendship between the two countries.

Anastasiades said Cyprus supports China's "Belt and Road" initiative, and is ready to enhance pragmatic cooperation with China in trade, investment, tourism, shipping and other fields.

When met with Bangladesh National Assembly Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, Li called on the two sides to deepen cooperation in capacity, infrastructure and other areas to build a China-Bangladesh community of shared destiny.

Chowdhury said Bangladesh is willing to actively participate in construction of the "Belt and Road" and South-South cooperation to benefit the two countries' peoples.

When met with vice president of the Maldives Ahmed Adeeb, Li said China is willing to work with the Maldives to promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

Adeeb said the Maldives is willing to participate in the construction of the "Belt and Road" as well as enhance cooperation with China in tourism and fishery.

When met with Nikolai Levichev, deputy chairman of Russia's State Duma, Li and Levichev exchanged views on China-Russia ties and relations between the CPC and the A Just Russia party.