China's top legislator Wu Bangguo said in Beijing Thursday that the country would push forward friendly relations with the Islamic world.

Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), made the remarks when meeting with the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu.

Wu said China and all Islamic countries, as developing nations, enjoyed a long history of bilateral exchanges.

China has always valued the traditional friendship with Islamic nations, Wu said, expressing appreciation for those countries' firm support on issues concerning China's core interests.

China also has always supported Islamic nations on issues related to their concerns, and would work with them to increase exchanges and cooperation in politics, economy, trade and culture, he noted.

Wu also briefed Ihsanoglu on China's national and religious policies and on the social and economic situation of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Ihsanoglu said friendly exchanges between the Islamic world and China not only accorded with fundamental interests of all parties, but also promoted human progress.

The OIC was opposed to terrorism, separatism and extremism in any form, Ihsanoglu said, noting that the Islamic world would work with China to carry forward the traditional friendship and increase exchanges and cooperation.

Besides Beijing, Ihsanoglu and his delegation would also visit Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Xinjiang.

(Xinhua News Agency June 17, 2010)