BEIJING, June 21 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator, Wu Bangguo, met Monday with a delegation from the Ethiopian House of Federation, pledging closer links between the two countries on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

Meeting with the delation led by Speaker Degefi Bula, Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), described bilateral ties as an example of friendship between China and African countries.

Since the two countries established diplomatic relationship 40 years ago, China and Ethiopia had seen consolidated and progressive friendly cooperation in the spirit of mutual respect and equality, said Wu.

The establishment of a comprehensive cooperative partnership in 2003 set the direction for the future development of relations, said Wu.

Wu said China was willing to work with Ethiopia to tap cooperative potential and boost traditional friendship.

Wu said parliamentary exchanges between the two countries had played positive roles in promoting nation-to-nation relations.

Wu urged the two countries to deepen cooperation between special committees and friendly groups within both parliaments in a bid to introduce new energy into China-Ethiopia ties.

Degefi expressed his appreciation for China's assistance to African countries, including Ethiopia, saying the Ethiopian government and parliament highly valued relations with China and would learn from China in its economic development, technological progress and national unity.

Ethiopia would make joint efforts with China to enhance cooperation in areas like agriculture, science and technology, and infrastructure, said Degefi.