Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (C) meets with Canada's Senate Speaker George Furey (R) and Speaker of the House of Commons Geoff Regan in Ottawa, Canada, Sept. 22, 2016. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

Premier Li Keqiang said here Thursday that China stands ready to continuously increase contacts and expand cooperation with Canada to break new ground for promoting bilateral relations.

Li made the remarks as he met Canada's speaker of the Senate George Furey and speaker of the House of Commons Geoff Regan.

Li said Chinese and Canadian people enjoy long-standing friendship and the two countries' economies are highly complementary with broad prospects for cooperation.

It is normal for China and Canada, with different national conditions and cultural backgrounds, to have different viewpoints or disagreements on some issues, Li said.

But their common interests are far greater than differences, Li said, noting that the two countries have neither problems left over by history nor fundamental conflict of interests.

China's National People's Congress, China's legislature, is willing to strengthen the exchange of experience in law-making and rule of law, and facilitate communication with Canada's Senate and House of Commons to help promote China-Canada relations and enhance understanding and friendship between the two peoples, Li said. ' Furey and Regan agreed with Li's evaluation of China-Canada relations, saying that enhancing two-way communication between the legislatures of the two countries would help the two sides boost understanding, reach consensus and strengthen cooperation.

They said Li's visit to Canada, the first by a Chinese premier in 13 years, will create new important opportunities for the continued deepening of relations and cooperation between the two countries.