He Guoqiang (R), a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, shakes hands with Botswana's former president Festus Mogae in Beijing, capital of China, May 23, 2012. He met with representatives attending the 2012 Understanding and Cooperation Dialogue on Wednesday.(Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

He Guoqiang, a senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official, on Wednesday met with delegates of a forum discussing international relations and vowed to enhance people-to-people exchanges with foreign countries.

He, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said that enhancing international understanding and cooperation is an important way to promote world peace and stability as well as the development and prosperity of the world's nations.

China is ready to promote friendly exchanges with foreign countries through multiple channels and in various forms, so as to increase mutual understanding and beef up pragmatic cooperation, he told delegates of the 2012 Understanding and Cooperation Dialogue.

The CPC and the Chinese government attach great importance to people-to-people exchanges, and encourage and support non-governmental organizations in different countries to strengthen communication, he said.

He expressed hope that the Dialogue will become a new platform for deepening friendship between Chinese people and the rest of the world.

Festus Mogae, former president of Botswana, said the dialogue has become a bridge for understanding and cooperation among non-governmental groups of different countries.

Mogae voiced appreciation for China's stance on boosting exchanges with international communities and hope that exchanges and cooperation with non-governmental organizations in China can be enhanced.

The Dialogue, hosted by the Chinese Association for International Understanding and the China Foundation for Peace and Development on Tuesday, was attended by more than 60 former politicians and heads of non-governmental organizations from nearly 20 nations.