Shen Yueyue, vice-chairperson of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, attends the opening ceremony of the 2022 BRICS Friendship Cities and Local Governments Cooperation Forum in Beijing, Sept 20, 2022. [Photo by Ren Xin/Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries]

Shen Yueyue, vice-chairperson of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, attended and addressed the opening ceremony of the 2022 BRICS Friendship Cities and Local Governments Cooperation Forum on Sept 20.

Shen said that the Beijing Declaration, issued at the 14th BRICS Summit in June, has outlined strategic plans for a new journey of BRICS cooperation.

She called for local governments of BRICS countries to promote the implementation of the Global Security Initiative and the Global Development Initiative, jointly address global risks and challenges, advance innovation-driven growth, and strengthen mutual understanding and people-to-people exchanges.

The forum was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the China International Friendship Cities Association, and the Fujian Provincial People's Government. Diplomatic envoys of related countries as well as representatives from 123 local governments and eight friendship organizations participated in the event online or offline.

Shen Yueyue, vice-chairperson of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, attends the opening ceremony of the 2022 BRICS Friendship Cities and Local Governments Cooperation Forum in Beijing, Sept 20, 2022. [Photo by Ren Xin/ Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries]