The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), a landmark event in the history of the ruling party of the world's largest developing country, attracted keen attention from across the world as it opened in Beijing on Wednesday.

This is what some foreign leaders and observers have said about China's role in international affairs:

Aleksandar Vucic, Serbian president, on the Belt and Road Initiative

"The world will be much richer with such good initiatives than without them."

Noh Young-min, South Korean ambassador to China

"Over the past five years, China has shown (its) potential to the entire world."

Sitaram Yechury, general secretary of the Communist Party of India

"We think the congress' decisions will be important for strengthening multilateralism in international relations, as opposed to unilateralism and imperialism."

David Shambaugh, professor of political science and international affairs at George Washington University

"The world has seen China significantly increase its contributions in the areas of climate change, global health, international peacekeeping, anti-piracy, anti-corruption, international law enforcement, disaster relief, global economic governance, development aid, energy security, maritime security, and reshaping multilateral institutions."

"China's dramatically increased role in global governance is very positive. ... No other global power can claim to have essentially positive relations with so many countries as China."

Avery Goldstein, political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania

China has been playing a leading role in terms of "preventing the rejection of an open international economic order" through initiatives such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Belt and Road Initiative.