WASHINGTON - Wang Jiarui, visiting head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, held talks on Wednesday with Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and members of state Congress to hail the fruits of the central US state's cooperation with China in various fields.

In their meeting held in the city of Columbia, Wang briefed Nixon on China's 12th Five Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (2011-2015). He expressed the hope that Missouri and other US Midwestern states will seize the opportunity to deepen local-level cooperation with China, thus helping further boost the development of the China-US cooperative partnership based on mutual benefit and respect.

For his part, Nixon said that Missouri will continue to play an active role in expanding the cooperation between the Midwestern United States and China, by taking advantage of being one of the major hubs and bridges connecting the two sides.

During his visit to Missouri, Wang also held talks with Sly James, Mayor of Kansas City, as well as other local officials, experts and Chinese-American community leaders.

Before his trip to Missouri, Wang had already visited the US state of Texas and Canada.