Xia Baolong, vice-chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, met with envoys from different Asian countries in Beijing on July 22.

The envoys were invited to learn about the CPPCC's role and functions via discussions and watching documentaries. 

During the discussion, Leela Mani Paudyal, Nepal's ambassador to China, inquired about the difference between the National People's Congress and the CPPCC. 

Guo Jun, deputy secretary-general of the CPPCC National Committee, said it is common for  foreign friends not to know the difference. 

Before the system of the National People's Congress was established in 1954, the CPPCC had functioned in an acting capacity for the NPC. After its establishment, the NPC has been China's legislative body and the CPPCC has worked as a united front and specialized consultation body. 

The CPPCC National Committee can collect voices from different walks of life and act as a reference to national decision-making, Guo said. 

Loh Ka Leung, Singapore's ambassador to China, asked what plans for public diplomacy the CPPCC would consider for enhancing communication with other Asian people. 

Yang Yanyi, a member of the Committee for Foreign Affairs of the CPPCC National Committee, said that the national committee comprises experts from different fields and assists the CPPCC in launching public diplomacy measures. 

Last year, the Committee for Foreign Affairs organized its members to visit three Asian countries and learned about opinions of their think tanks and companies on the Belt and Road Initiative. 

The envoys also watched a documentary that shows the role that the CPPCC plays in China's political life.

More than 60 envoys from 40 Asian countries' embassies in China and two international organizations attended the event.