More than 30 participants of the 12th Seminar for Arabic Officials by the China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development visit the Standing Committee of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress as well as other spots in the city on Monday. [Photo by Gao Erqiang / chinadaily.com.cn]

More than 30 participants of the 12th Seminar for Arabic Officials by the China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development visited the Standing Committee of Shanghai Municipal People's Congress on Monday.

Chen Jing, deputy director of the standing committee, said during the event that the congress, the city's legislative body, has actively provided legal protection to aid Shanghai's efforts to construct a socialist modern metropolis that is globally influential.

"The legislative fields of Shanghai cover all aspects of economic and social development, and the city has formed a relatively sound urban regulatory system," said Chen, who is also president of the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

Chen also spoke to the visitors about the progress that Shanghai has made in developing its economy, urban governance, and livelihood services.

The participants then watched a video about the People's Congress system and how the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress operates.

During the exchange session, officials from Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon and Arab League shared their views on topics such as the implementation of whole-process people's democracy, selection methods for legislators, the proportion of male and female legislators, and the exchanges between Shanghai and cities of Arab countries.

The participants also visited the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall and the waterfront area of the Huangpu River in Yangpu district during the event, which was jointly hosted by the foreign affairs committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress, the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and the China-Arab Research Center on Reform and Development.