BEIJING, March 26 -- Chinese top legislator Zhang Dejiang met on Thursday with Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian.

Zhang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said Armenia is an important cooperative partner of China in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

He said the Silk Road Economic Belt initiative unveiled by Chinese President Xi Jinping has provided fresh opportunities for deepening bilateral cooperation.

Zhang said the NPC has set up sound cooperative relations with the Armenian parliament. He said the legislatures of the two countries should cooperate and exchange their experience making laws as well as advance multi-level contact between political parties and social groups. He said the two sides should use parliamentary friendship panels to promote bilateral relations.

Sarkisian said Armenia is ready to enhance mutual trust and expand cooperation with China to lift bilateral relations to a new level. He said he supports strengthening exchanges between the legislatures of the two countries.