Zhang Dejiang (R), chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, shakes hands with Israeli Parliament Speaker Yuli Edelstein at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 11, 2016. [Photo by Xie Huanchi / Xinhua]

China and Israel on April 11 agreed to more exchanges and cooperation between their parliaments as top Chinese legislator Zhang Dejiang met Israeli Parliament Speaker Yuli Edelstein in Beijing.

Zhang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said China is promoting innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, while Israel has formed a set of effective practices in advancing scientific and technological innovation.

The two parliaments should share experience in legislation on promoting innovation and improving governance, he said.

China and Israel have signed a number of pacts in trade, science, education and agriculture, noted Zhang, and the Belt and Road initiative and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank have also provided new opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

He said the legislative bodies of the two sides should create a legal and policy environment to help mutual investment, cooperation between enterprises and people-to-people exchanges.

Last year, the bilateral trade volume increased by almost 5 percent over the same period of 2014, and Chinese tourists to Israel rose by nearly 30 percent.

And the two sides have agreed to officially start talks on a free trade agreement in March.

Edelstein, on a China visit from Sunday to Thursday, said Israel places great importance in ties with China and believes that bilateral friendship will not only benefit the two nations and their people, but will also cast a positive influence to peace and development of the region and the world.

The Israeli parliament is willing to hold more exchanges with the NPC, he said.