TOP Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo has stressed the importance of upholding the principle of free trade in efforts to tide over the economic difficulties facing China and the United States.

"At present, it is particularly important to uphold the principle of free trade and prevent various forms of trade protectionism," Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, said on Tuesday at the one-day US-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum which was held in Phoenix.

Economic cooperation and trade provide a solid foundation for China-US relations and an essential guarantee for continued dynamism of the relationship, Wu said.

"To overcome the current difficulties and turn our desire for closer economic cooperation and trade into reality, it is important to give full play to the primary role of businesses," he stated.

"It is also important to bring into full play the role of the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogues, the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade and other relevant mechanisms, act in the broader interest of China-US economic cooperation and trade, and resolve issues arising from cooperation in a timely and proper way so as to create a good environment and to facilitate our cooperation, particularly cooperation between business," he said.

Wu voiced hope that Chinese and American businesses will combine their strengths and explore new avenues and areas of cooperation through joint research, demonstration projects, joint technology development and expansion of mutual investment.

"I also hope that the governments and other parties concerned in both countries will make cooperation between businesses a priority in strengthening and improving China-US economic ties and trade, enhance protection of intellectual property rights, work hard to improve the policy and legal environment, and promote bilateral trade and investment facilitation," Wu said at the forum.