Li Hongzhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice-chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with a delegation of international non-governmental people in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 16, 2023. [Xinhua/Yue Yuewei]

BEIJING -- Senior Chinese legislator Li Hongzhong on Monday met with a delegation of international non-governmental people and a delegation of French experts on the Belt and Road Initiative, respectively, in Beijing.

Li, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice-chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, called on the non-governmental representatives to continue promoting mutual learning between civilizations, and do more to deepen friendly relations between their respective countries and China and strengthen people-to-people bonds.

Delegation members from countries including Pakistan, Tanzania, Papua New Guinea, and Malta expressed their willingness to serve as a bridge between their respective countries and China and enhance the friendship between the peoples.

When meeting with the French experts, Li said the China-France relations have always been at the forefront of China's relations with major Western countries and the two sides have played a leading role in safeguarding multilateralism, advancing multi-polarization, and promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.

The Belt and Road cooperation between China and France will be conducive to consolidating multilateralism, building an open world economy, tapping new growth drivers, and promoting common and sustainable development of all countries, Li said.

The French side said that China, as a major country with a long history, is an important force in safeguarding world stability and France is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in various fields including parliamentary exchanges to jointly address global challenges. 

Li Hongzhong, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and vice-chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with a delegation of French experts on the Belt and Road Initiative in Beijing, capital of China, Oct 16, 2023. [Xinhua/Gao Jie]