Quotable quotes from top Chinese legislator at Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament

Following are quotable quotes from Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC), who spoke on Monday at the Fourth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament, which kicked off at UN Headquarters in New York on Monday:

-- The parliaments of all countries need to work together on the basis of consensus to build a world with greater justice and democracy and create better conditions for lasting peace and sustainable development.

-- As the legislative body, parliaments should observe, defend and promote the international law and basic norms governing international relations, and engage in equal-footed dialogue and democratic consultations. There should be no space for the "Law of the Jungle" in the 21st century.

-- Parliaments should fulfill their duties by providing strong legal guarantee for building a more equitable and balanced new type of global development partnership and promoting mutually-beneficial cooperation at all levels and in all areas.

-- The parliaments of all countries should strengthen the sharing of experience in governance, and play an active role in promoting people-to-people friendship and exchanges.

-- In three days' time, China, as the main theater of the World Anti-Fascist War in the East, will hold celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. By remembering the past and honoring the heroes, we can safeguard human justice and conscience, and demonstrate to the world the firm resolve of the Chinese people to cherish peace and create a better future.

-- Under the new circumstances, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) needs to update its thinking, strengthen its interaction and links with the UN, continue to provide an effective platform for inter-parliamentary exchanges and cooperation, and play a more important role in international affairs.

-- To achieve national strength, rejuvenation and happiness has been the common aspiration of the Chinese people since the modern times and the greatest dream of the Chinese nation.

-- The Chinese people know full well how difficult it has been to find the right path. We will firmly follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics and create a brighter future of our nation.

-- China cannot develop in isolation from the world and the world also needs China for its development. China is committed to the path of peaceful development and the independent foreign policy of peace and strives to develop itself in a peaceful international environment and maintain and promote world peace through its own development. This will benefit not only the Chinese people, but also the people of the world.

-- The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013 has fully shown China's dedication to peaceful development and win-win cooperation, and offered a new approach and opportunities for stronger cooperation under the principles of wide consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. Enditem