2026 Interregional Seminar on the Achievement of the SDGs for Parliaments of Developing Countries Opens in Beijing

BEIJING, Aug. 25 (Guangming Online)--The opening ceremony of the "2026 Interregional Seminar on the Achievement of the SDGs for Parliaments of Developing Countries" was held in Beijing on August 24, drawing more than 50 parliamentarians and officials from 11 foreign countries and 2 international organizations. The event was jointly organized by the National People's Congress of China (NPC) and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) under the theme of "Stronger Inter-Parliamentary Exchanges for Better Achievement of the SDGs" .

In her address, IPU Secretary General Anda Filip said: "For many years, I have followed China's development with great interest. The sound progress built throughout the years is an example of what determination and engagement to advance sustainable development can look like." She noted that the NPC is one of the IPU's most committed supporters, and that the convening of this seminar also marks the signing of a new cooperation agreement between the IPU and NPC on the promotion of sustainable development for all.

Stephen Jackson, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China, said the Seminar has become an important platform for dialogue, learning and cooperation among developing countries in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. By deepening cooperation among parliaments and parliamentarians, it will help accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and contribute to building a more peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world and a community with a shared future for humanity.

Soungalo Traoré, a member of the National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire, said: "Sustainable development is no longer an option; it has become an imperative for all our nations. We face common challenges such as climate change, food insecurity and poverty, and no country can address them alone. So we have to be together.”

The seminar will run from August 24 to 31 in China. Parliamentarians and officials from 11 countries — Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Bangladesh, Côte d'Ivoire, Dominica, Maldives, Nepal, Niger, Suriname, Tanzania and Türkiye — will engage in in-depth exchanges with relevant Chinese government departments, enterprises and experts through thematic seminars and field visits. Their exchanges will focus on three topics: Promote the sound development of AI and advance people's well-being through technological innovation；Implement the Global Development Initiative and achieve high-quality population development; Coordinate emissions reduction with development and deepen global climate governance.