The 2023 Legislators Forum for Friendly Exchanges, sponsored by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, was held in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province, on Sept 21. The forum is themed on sustainable development for all.

Xiao Jie, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech.

Xiao noted that the Global Development Initiative (GDI) proposed by China is aimed at steering global development toward a new stage of balanced, coordinated and inclusive growth and building a global community of shared future. China has been committed to the new development philosophy of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, he said, stressing that China is ready to work with other countries to implement the GDI and ensure that the fruits of development benefit the people of all countries in a more equitable manner.

China is developing whole-process people's democracy, and the system of people's congresses is an important institutional vehicle for realizing  whole-process people's democracy, he said, adding that he hopes legislators will have a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of China and contribute to the promotion of friendly communication, practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries.

Prior to the opening ceremony, he met with major participants from both China and other countries.