How can we expound on the unique roles of the people's congress in communicating with other countries, so that it can better serve the national diplomatic efforts?

The people's congress sees communicating with other countries as a part of China's overall diplomatic program. This communication of the NPC and people's congresses at various levels makes up the important channel promoting China's international contacts. For many years, the NPC has actively promoted high-level communication, encouraged institutional exchanges and enhanced friendship with parliaments in various countries and multilateral parliamentary organizations.

This communication by the people's congress should reflect people's will and maintain national sovereignty, security and development interests. The 12th NPC focuses on the following aspects in its foreign communication:

First, enhancing the international community's understanding of China's political system and development path in order to maintain a sound external environment for national development. Hence, we should actively introduce to the outside world the system of the people's congress and the achievements made in China's democratic and legal construction, publicize China's peaceful development path and convey the will and opinions of the Chinese people. Special efforts should be made in relation to people's work, and in-depth exchanges concerning people's universal interests should be conducted, so as to increase mutual understanding.

Second, expanding legislative exchanges. Different countries have different political systems and are in different development phases. However, most countries pursue a common goal of seeking development and improving people's livelihoods. In its foreign communication, the NPC deems it important to share governance experience and learn from the legislative experiences of other sovereign states. These exchanges can all help improve our socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics.

Third, actively learning about and promoting solutions to the challenges in international cooperation. Many deputies to the people's congress are experts and scholars in areas such as the economy and trade, science and technology and environmental protection. There are also many entrepreneurs. In foreign communications, their expertise and experience can play very important roles. Before the visit, we had a symposium with some deputies to the NPC and local people's congresses to listen to their suggestions and opinions. With their input we were better able to prepare for the visit.