Photo taken on July 6, 2023 shows a scene of the fifth Seminar for Parliaments of Developing Countries in Beijing, China. [Photo by Wang Ruoxin/Guangming Online]

BEIJING - The opening session of the 2023 Interregional Seminar on the Achievement of the SDGs for Parliaments of Developing Countries (5th Seminar for Parliaments of Developing Countries) kicked off on July 6 in Beijing.

Shohrat Zakir, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. He said China is willing to work with developing countries to build consensuses on development through cooperation among legislative bodies, promote world economic recovery and sustainable development, and enhance exchange and mutual learning among civilizations.

Shohrat Zakir (second from the right), vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, attends the opening ceremony and delivers a speech in Beijing. [Photo by Wang Ruoxin/Guangming Online]

Over 30 members of parliaments (MPs) from nine developing countries including Cambodia, Guyana, Honduras, Kiribati, Laos, the Maldives, South Africa, Suriname and Thailand gathered in the Great Hall of the People for the seminar themed "Stronger inter-parliamentary Exchanges for Better Achievement of the SDGs".

Photo taken on July 6, 2023 shows MPs from developing countries gathered in the Great Hall of the People for the fifth Seminar for Parliaments of Developing Countries in Beijing. [Photo by Wang Ruoxin/Guangming Online]

Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Secretary General Martin Chungong emphasized the need for building a community of mutual learning and exchanges to achieve greater prosperity for all. He also mentioned that the Belt and Road initiative is one model that can bring greater prosperity for the global community and expressed hope that MPs will gain a better understanding of it during their stay in China.

The opening ceremony was followed by four thematic seminars focusing on facilitation and freedom of trade, whole-process people's democracy and the practical experience of Chinese modernization and other topics related to the SDGs. After the three-day activities in Beijing, MPs will also travel to Southwest China’s Yunnan province, East China’s Jiangsu province and Shanghai.

Photo taken on July 6, 2023 shows IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong delivering a speech in the opening ceremony in Beijing. [Photo by Wang Ruoxin/Guangming Online]

Before the opening ceremony, Shohrat Zakir met with Chungong and the delegation visited the Great Hall of the People.