|
|
With the Seventeenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China
(CPC) drawing near, overseas readers are showing great interest in
external exchanges of the CPC. People¡¯s Daily (overseas
edition) had an interview with Wang Jiarui, Minister of the
International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC) for a
detailed introduction of the Party¡¯s work on the international
front.
A paradigm of party-to-party diplomacy of Chinese style
has taken shape.
Q: Could you first of all give a brief account on the general situation
of the CPC¡¯s external exchanges?
A: Sticking to the four principles of ¡°independence, complete equality,
mutual respect and non-interference in each other¡¯s internal
affairs¡±, the Communist Party of China actively reaches out to all
political parties and organizations across the world who are willing
to engage with the Party in a new type of inter-party relations of
exchanges and cooperation.
At present, the CPC has established and maintains various forms of
contacts, exchanges and cooperation with over 400 political parties
and organizations in over 160 courtiers and regions. A paradigm of
party-to-party diplomacy of Chinese style that is all dimensional,
multi-channeled, wide-ranging and deep-going has taken shape.
Pursuing a ¡°human-oriented¡± style of work, the CPC tries keenly to
make as many friends as possible and to forge close ties with them.
Through our work, many political heavy weights and media people who
used to have prejudice towards the CPC have turned to be friends of
the CPC, becoming forces friendly to China.
High-level exchanges of visits have been increasingly
active in recent years.
Q: Would you please brief us on the new development in the Party¡¯s
foreign affairs work since the Sixteenth National Congress of the
CPC?
A: First of all, high-level exchanges of visits have been more active.
Since the Sixteenth Party Congress, nearly 200 delegations led by
main party leaders have visited China. Over 50 CPC delegations
headed by officials at and above the Political Bureau level have
paid visits to other countries. Members of the Standing Committee of
the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee have met with
around 300 visiting delegations. Direct contact and dialogues
between the Chinese leadership including General Secretary Hu
Jiantao and party leaders of various countries have played an
irreplaceable role in guiding development of party relations and
state-to-state relations.
Our contacts have reached further and wider. Over the past five years,
the CPC has newly established relations with nearly a hundred
political parties in over 30 countries. New friends were made in
South Pacific island states, the Middle East and Central America and
the Caribbean.
Parties the CPC associates with cover a greater range. New development is
witnessed in CPC¡¯s relations with traditional parties like communist
parties, worker¡¯s parties, socialist parties, labor parties, and
conservative parties with new breakthroughs in dealing with emerging
parties such as the green parties. Relations with major political
groups in the European Parliament and international organizations of
political parties have also been further expanded.
The CPC¡¯s foreign exchanges are carried out in greater depth. In addition
to study tours, theoretical discussions, political dialogues, and
seminars on economic and cultural cooperation, discussions are also
carried out to share governance experiences, to seek solutions to
international and regional issues, to explore new ways to promote
state-to-state relations and to look for new means of enhancing
party building.
Platforms of exchanges are more diversified. The CPC has actively
attended congresses, and party newspaper festivals of foreign
parties. It also volunteered to hold international conferences of
political parties. In 2004, the CPC hosted the third International
Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), which saw the
participation of over 80 political parties. According to statistics,
over the past five years, over 1200 party delegations have visited
China. The CPC has also been invited to send over 600 delegations
abroad, making the Party¡¯s external exchanges more active than ever.
Party diplomacy will always serve the goals of overall
state diplomacy.
Q: From your briefing, we can see that the CPC¡¯s work on the foreign
front is a thriving enterprise. What is the purpose and meaning of
the Party¡¯s external work?
A: The external work of the CPC has always been an integral part of the
Party¡¯s all round effort to fulfill its general mission. Since the
CPC is the ruling party, its external work is also an integral part
of the overall diplomatic endeavor of the country, which always
serves the interests of overall diplomacy as well as domestic
development and international cooperation.
External exchanges of the CPC have been not only a major platform for the
Party to observe, understand and embrace the world, but also a prime
showcase to display to the international community the CPC¡¯s image
as a democratic, progressive, open-minded and innovative party that
works for the interests of the public and for the well-being of the
people; a showcase for the world to learn about the new theoretical
findings advocated by the CPC, including the scientific outlook on
development and the building of harmony through joint efforts.
Besides, the Party¡¯s external work also provides intellectual support for
the Central Committee to make analysis and judgment on the
international situation, to deal with major international issues and
to better run the Party and the country. We are also actively
involved in important diplomatic activities of the state. Giving
full play to our unique advantages of ¡°all-whether dialogues¡±, ¡°soft
diplomacy¡± and ¡°people relations¡±, at key moments when bilateral
relations face difficulties or breakthroughs, we will open
communication channels, seek cooperation from various parties and
provide a new way for the problems to be solved.
At the same time, the Party¡¯s foreign affairs work is also linked closely
to China¡¯s reform and development initiatives, including the Western
Development strategy, Revitalization of Old Industrial Bases in
China¡¯s Northeast, Rise of Central China, Supporting Eastern Coastal
Areas to Take Development Lead, etc. to serve domestic economic
development.
The CPC¡¯s external work will make new contribution to the
building of a harmonious world.
Q: The Seventeenth National Congress of the CPC is to be convened soon.
How will you foresee the prospects of the Party¡¯s external work?
A: The CPC¡¯s external work will continue to deepen in the future, with
opportunities and challenges on the way. The Seventeenth National
Congress of the CPC is going to be convened soon. The external work
of the Party will be carried out based on review of new rules, new
experiences and new features since the Sixteenth Party Congress, and
serious analysis of new situation, new environment and new
opportunities in order to better serve the building of a harmonious
society, and the endeavor of creating a new situation in building
socialism with Chinese characteristics. Meanwhile, it will make new
contributions to the friendly cooperation between China and the
world, to the building of a harmonious world, and to peace,
development and progress of mankind.
¡¡
Enditem
¡¡ |
|