Fifty-one years ago today, on June 19, 1974 (April 29, 1974), the Arab Parliamentary Union was established. On June 19-21, 1974, representatives of the parliaments of Algeria, the United Arab Emirates and other Arab countries held the Constituent Assembly of the Arab Parliamentary Union in Damascus and announced the establishment of the Arab Parliamentary Union. Its purpose is to strengthen exchanges and exchanges among Arab parliaments; coordinate and unify the activities of Arab parliaments in international and other fields, and strengthen exchanges with other regional parliamentary unions and national parliamentary organizations; coordinate and unify the legislation of Arab countries; discuss common problems in the Arab world; and promote the cause of the Arab nation internationally. According to regulations, the alliance holds a general assembly every two years, chaired by the speaker of the host country's parliament; the council is held by the speakers of various countries in rotation, meeting once a year, and holding emergency meetings when necessary; there is a general secretariat, and the secretary-general is elected by the council for a two-year term. The headquarters is in Damascus. Representatives of the alliance visited China in October 1985 and established contact with the Chinese National People's Congress.