The 35th annual plenary meeting of the InterAction Council kicked off in Beijing on September 28. Former political leaders from over 20 countries and regions attended the opening ceremony.

Ji Bingxuan, vice chairman of the 12th Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and vice-president of the Chinese Association for International Understanding, delivered a speech at the ceremony.

The InterAction Council has been entrusted to enhance the design of the global governance system, improve capacities of the international community to address global challenges, implement the concept of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration, and make greater contributions to the construction of the global governance system, he said.

In his remarks at the ceremony, Bertie Ahern, former Taoiseach of Ireland and co-chair of the InterAction Council, introduced the themes for discussion, including climate change, artificial intelligence, human migration, and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Established in 1983 by former heads of state and government, the InterAction Council has been committed to building a better future by facilitating dialogue and bringing together leading experts on international relations for a long period, he said.

Global governance is the right pathway to seeking solutions to challenges facing humanity, he emphasized. "The international system is not perfect...but the international system is crucial, so we must defend it," he said, adding that, "We can and should develop it to be more inclusive and responsive and to involve more people, NGOs and enterprises."

The plenary meeting is jointly held by the InterAction Council and the Chinese Association for International Understanding.

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