BEIJING, March 9 -- China's top legislature said Wednesday it will strengthen exchanges with parliaments of other countries this year.

The National People's Congress (NPC), the national legislature, will strengthen the planning and management of its foreign relations work, said the NPC Standing Committee in its annual work report to be delivered soon by its Chairman Zhang Dejiang.

It will give priorities to developing contact with the parliaments of major countries, China's neighbors and other developing countries, the report said.

"We will make sure that these initiatives not only enhance China's international influence and its weight in international discourse, but comply with and serve the Belt and Road Initiative and China's overall development," it added.