A delegation of Chinese legislators departed Beijing on Monday morning for the 17th annual conference of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum scheduled for 11 to 15 in Laos.

The delegation, led by Zhou Tienong, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, will also pay friendly visits to Brunei and Singapore at the invitation of the Brunei government and Parliament of Singapore.

(Xinhua News Agency January 5, 2009)