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The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party
of China (CPC) is one of great importance held at a crucial stage of
China's reform and development. Under the theme of holding high the
great banner of socialism with Chinese Characteristics, following
the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of
Three Represents and thoroughly applying the Scientific Outlook on
Development, the Congress pointed out the way ahead for future
development of the Party and the Nation. In the regard of the CPC's
international exchanges, which are an integral part of the general
cause of the Party and of China's overall diplomatic programme,
efforts will be made in light of the spirit of the Congress to draw
useful lessons from past experience, explore new ways, forms and
mechanisms for carrying out our work under new circumstances, forge
ahead in a practical and truth-seeking manner, and create a new
situation of party diplomacy unique to the CPC, so as to make ever
more contribution to the great cause of socialism with Chinese
characteristics and to the great new endeavour of self-improvement
of the CPC.
I. The CPC's external work since the 16th
National Congress: energetic contribution to advancing socialism
with Chinese characteristics
Since the 16th Congress of the CPC, under the
leadership and care of the Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao
as the General Secretary, focusing on the central task of the Party
and the overall national foreign strategy, and with efforts to
implement the strategic plans, policy decisions and instructions of
the central leadership, the Party's external work has played an
important part in facilitating the building of a well-off society in
all respects, strengthening the Party's governing capability,
promoting theoretical innovations, presenting a fine image of the
Party to the world and in fostering a favourable international
environment for China.
1. High level party-to-party exchanges of visits were arranged in
line with China's overall planning of foreign affairs, which
effectively promoted state-to-state relations and helped create a
favourable external climate. Members of the central leading bodies
regarded highly of the Party's international exchanges, and many of
them were personally involved in relevant activities. In the past
five years, senior leaders of the CPC paid over 50 visits to nearly
80 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Europe and Oceana upon
invitations of political parties or political leaders of those
countries, and in the meantime, received 680 foreign party
delegations visiting China. During their meetings with foreign party
and government officials, they thoroughly expounded the CPC's ideas
of governance and its strategic pursuance such as adhering to the
road of peaceful development, pursuing development in a scientific
way, building a harmonious society in China and promoting a
harmonious world among nations, thus getting these ideas and China's
foreign policies better appreciated by the international community.
Meanwhile, they also conducted in-depth exchanges of views over some
major global issues of common interest as well as on bilateral
relations, which has helped relieve suspicions, enhance mutual trust
and promote extensive exchanges and cooperation in the political,
economic, cultural and other areas. Especially the close contacts
between senior leaders of the CPC and those of ruling parties of
socialist countries have further consolidated and expanded China's
traditional friendship with these countries and have facilitated
proper solutions to some issues in bilateral relations.
2. Contacts with various foreign political parties were deepened in
all dimensions with more stress on priority cases in implementing
the major decisions of the Central Committee on foreign affairs,
laying solid political foundation for the sound development of
state-to-state relations. Exchanges and dialogue were enhanced with
major parties both in government and in opposition in such
neighbouring countries as Japan, Russia, India and South Korea,
which helped improve and consolidate inter-state relations with
these countries. Relations with political parties in Latin America,
Eastern Europe and the Middle East were expanded. Inter-party
exchanges with African countries were intensified, which gave
impetus to the new type China-Africa strategic partnership through
party channels. Exchanges and dialogue with mainstream parties in
developed countries were carried out further in depth, which helped
enhance mutual understanding and cooperation. Further more, efforts
were made to explore and carry out multilateral inter-party
exchanges with increased contacts with international or regional
political party organizations such as the Socialist International,
the Christian Democrats International, major party groups in the
European Parliament, the Party of European Socialists, the European
People's Party and the Permanent Conference of Latin American and
Caribbean Political Parties, etc. In 2004, the CPC successfully
hosted the Third International Conference of Asian Political
Parties, during which 18 CPC leaders held bilateral meetings and
official talks with party leaders from 33 countries, demonstrating a
pragmatic and pioneering image of the central collective leadership
of the Party that is determined to progress with the times. The
event also promoted the international influence of the CPC.
3. More substance was added to party-to-party exchanges with
intensified studies on the governing capacity building and
statecraft of foreign ruling parties and increased efforts to
facilitate economic cooperation through party associations. Joint
seminars with other parties and organizations as well as
investigation tours were organized with a view to carrying out
in-depth researches into experience and lessons of foreign parties
in terms of their efforts to improve ability of administration,
consolidate grassroots structures, promote rural development and
shape core social values; having a precise understanding of the new
trends of developments in the situation, political thinking and
party politics of the world; and providing intellectual support to
China's modernization drive and the CPC's party building endeavour.
The International Department of the CPC Central Committee undertook
part of the Project to Study and Develop Marxist Theories and
produced quite a number of papers, which provided worthy reference
for the building of the theoretical system of socialism with Chinese
characteristics. Besides, with the principle of promoting both
political and economic relations with other countries of the world,
special attention was paid in party channel exchanges to bridge
Chinese and foreign businesses by seeking convergent points that
would not only benefit the economic and social development in China
but also meet foreign parties' desire to engage in economic
cooperation with China.
4. Party diplomacy resources were fully deployed to provide active
support to major diplomatic moves of the state, especially in
addressing focal and thorny issues. Inter-party exchanges have
served as a platform for the CPC to publicize China's principle
positions on the Taiwan question, enabling parties and political
leaders of foreign countries to have a clear understanding of this
question and whereby impel their governments to stick to the
one-China principle. Party diplomacy were actively involved in the
country's foreign affairs programmes, playing a prominent and
effective part in primary businesses such as those related to
China-Japan relations, the DPRK nuclear talks and the reforms of the
United Nations, etc. with timely actions taken in accordance with
the general plan of the central authorities.
5. Efforts were reinforced to strengthen publicity in inter-party
exchanges by enhancing openness and transparency of the Party's
external activities, projecting to the world a good-will image of
the CPC. As instructed by leading comrades of the Central Committee,
and in the light of the existing conditions and challenges, efforts
were made to improve the ways and means and enrich the contents of
the publicity work in the Party's external exchanges. On the
occasions when senior Party leaders visited abroad, when prominent
foreign delegations came to China or on multi-lateral occasions of
party gatherings, such publicity work was carried out to truthfully
introduce to others the new developments in China as well as China's
positions on major international and domestic issues with more
attention being paid to enhance pertinence by using easily
acceptable languages. Press exposure was enhanced in an
all-directional and multi-layered manner to advertise the Party's
external work and some of its major diplomatic activities through
press conferences or interviews. On the occasion of the 17th
National Congress of the CPC, nearly 600 congratulatory messages
were received from political parties and organizations as well as
political leaders of foreign countries, in which they hailed the
achievements in China's reform and opening-up and highly commended
the CPC's spirit of advancing along with the times. This is a
concrete testimony that the CPC is enjoying ever more favourable
view of the world and that China's influence is continuously rising.
II. The 17th Congress Report: a guide of
action for the Party's external work in the new era
Based on a comprehensive understanding of the new
requirements of China's development and the new demands of the
Chinese people, and from both present and historical perspectives, a
series of new thoughts, new concepts and new measures are introduced
in the Report to the 17th CPC Congress, which embodies integration
of consistency with innovation, theory with practice, present
consideration with long-term plans, providing profound answers to
such questions of common concern by Party member and the general
public as well as the international community as what banner the
Party is to hold, what road it is to take, with what spirit and
towards what goals it is to advance. As a strategic document with
specified instructions for all undertakings, the Report provides an
important guidance for the Party's external work in the new era.
1. Charting the new course of China's
socialist modernization drive by holding high the great banner of
socialism with Chinese characteristics, persisting in freeing the
minds and in reform and opening-up. The Report gives a thorough
explanation of the ideological guarantee, the motive power, the
basic requirement as well as the goal of the road of socialism with
Chinese characteristics, which constitutes the common ground for the
Chinese people of all ethnic groups to strive ahead in concerted
efforts. General Secretary Hu Jintao stressed in the Report that we
must "continue to free our minds, seek truth from facts, keep up
with the times, make bold changes and innovations, never be rigid in
thinking and never stop advancing, fear no risks and never be
confused by any interference", which expressed the resolve and
determination of the Communist Party of China and the Chinese people
to march forward on the road of socialism with Chinese
characteristics. In this regard, the external work of the CPC, as an
integral part of the cause of the party, must be undertaken with
stronger sense of responsibility and sense of mission, to make due
contribution to developing socialism with Chinese characteristics
and to enriching the system of theories thereof.
2. Giving special emphasis on the need to
thoroughly apply the Scientific Outlook on Development to steer all
efforts of the Party and the state onto the path of scientific
development by putting the interests of the people above everything
else. The Report makes a comprehensive and systematic
expatiation on the essence and basic requirement of the Scientific
Outlook on Development, adds a chapter of new thoughts and new
assertions to the doctrines of socialism with Chinese
characteristics, and therefore occupies a significant position in
the history of ideological development of the Party. Based on a
comprehensive analysis of the main features of China's economic and
social development at the current stage, and with insight into the
trend of world development, the Scientific Outlook on Development
sheds light on the objective laws governing economic growth and
social progress in China and points out the direction of advancement
for all undertakings of the Party and the nation. It constitutes a
powerful tool for tackling various international and domestic
conundrums and for coping with all kinds of risks and challenges. It
also provides scientific theoretical guidance for the Party's
external work in the new century.
3. Making a solemn declaration that China will
resolutely follow the road of peaceful development, pursue an
opening-up strategy for mutual benefit and win-win results, remain
committed to developing friendship and cooperation with all
countries in the world on the basis of the Five Principles of
Peaceful Coexistence, and continue to conduct exchanges with
political parties and organizations of other countries. Based on
an in-depth analysis of the tremendous changes and adjustments of
the world as well as the features and trends of the times, and in
the context of different "China threat" statements, the Report makes
a solemn pledge to the world that China will strengthen
communication and cooperation with other countries in political,
economic, cultural, security and environmental areas to share the
developmental opportunities and to cope with various challenges
together with the international community. It stresses that whatever
changes may take place in the international situation, the Chinese
government and the Chinese people will always hold high the banner
of peace, development and cooperation, and promote the building of a
harmonious world of lasting peace and common prosperity. In this
regard, it will be an important aspect of the Party's external work
to advertise to the world China's independent foreign policy of
peace and the road of peaceful development it follows, and to
carefully study the trends of international developments and changes
as well as the trend of social and political thinking in the world,
so as to help shape policies for China's peaceful development.
4. Calling for a spirit of reform and
innovation in pushing forward the great new project of party
building, with strong emphasis on the building of the Party's
governing capabilities. The 17th Congress Report provides new
action plans for propelling party building in terms of the Party's
ideologies, organization structures, its style of work, institutions
and its endeavours to fight against corruption. In the context of
profound changes taken place in the world, in the country and in the
Party itself, it is imperative for the Party to reinforce its
governing capability and reassure its vanguard nature, by constantly
improving the institutions and enhancing the abilities for
exercising leadership and governance, so as to meet the demand of
the times and live up to the expectations of the people and to
enable the CPC to remain a ruling Marxist party that is built for
public interests and exercises governance for the people; a party
that is realistic, pragmatic and committed to reform and innovation;
a party that is hardworking and clean; and a party that is full of
vigor and enjoys solidarity and harmony. Given that the abilities to
engage in international exchanges, respond to international
situations and to handle international affairs are indispensable to
the CPC's overall governing capability, and the external work
constitutes an integral part of the general cause of the Party, such
abilities and work must be enhanced in a spirit of reform and
innovation, and with higher consciousness to serve the Party's
endeavour of strengthening its capability and advancing the great
new project of party building.
III. Follow the guidance of the Congress and
improve the Party's external work in all dimensions in the new era
To do a better job on the Party's external front
in the new era, we must first of all obtain a profound understanding
of the spirit of the Congress and put it into sound practice, bear
in mind what the Congress calls for and take it as an overarching
guidance for all our work. We should draw lessons from past
experience, carry forward the fine traditions, make overall and
rational planning, and whereby keenly appreciate the basic
principles, fundamental purposes and specific tasks of the Party's
external work, keep up with the times and forge ahead in a
pioneering spirit to open up new horizons for party diplomacy unique
to the CPC and to serve the cause of socialism with Chinese
characteristics.
1. To put our advantages into best use and continue to serve the
overall interest of the nation, i.e., building socialism with
Chinese characteristics. Inspired by the 17th Congress, we shall be
resolute in blazing new trails and forge ahead with determination,
fit our endeavour into the integral strategy of safeguarding overall
national security, promoting overall national diplomacy and
realizing complete national reunification, and play our prominent
part in party building of the CPC, in the all-round efforts to build
a well-off society and in propelling the socialist modernization
drive. We shall bring into full play the unique strength of party
diplomacy, make more friends extensively, deepen exchanges with
other parties, help the world to better understand and acknowledge
our cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, in a bid to
provide more solid political foundation for state-to-state
relations. We shall take up more economic functions in our external
work, with a view to supporting more directly the economic
construction of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Besides, we
shall also try to gain more insight into the new developments of the
world, carry out careful studies on the new measures and experience
in governance of other countries and take them for reference to our
own efforts in building material, cultural and ethical, political,
as well as ecological development in China.
2. To keep pace with the times, make bold renovation and thoroughly
apply the Scientific Outlook on Development in the external work of
the Party. Along with the booming of foreign relations of the CPC,
it is becoming increasing necessary to upgrade external exchanges
with more emphasis on quality, efficiency and connotation rather
than quantity, scale and extension. As required by the Congress, we
shall precisely grasp the essence of the Scientific Outlook on
Development, try to put it into practice with more resolve and
consciousness, rectify our mindsets that are not in conformity with
this Outlook and spare no effort to address prominent problems that
lie in the way of scientific development. We shall explore new ways
and mechanisms in our practice and bring up new points of growth.
Under the unified direction and command of the new central
leadership with Comrade Hu Jintao as the general secretary, we shall
implement the party's principle policies concerning its external
work, mobilized all possible resources and carry out our work with
clearer understanding of the mission and improved mechanisms in a
better coordinated and more effective manner.
3. To assume a broader vision, make rational plans and continue to
take both domestic and international situations as the basis of our
work. China now is at the threshold of a new stage of development,
and, according to the Report, its relationship with the rest of the
world has seen historic changes. The future and destiny of China is
increasingly closely connected with that of the world. The external
work of the party, which we in the International Department are
entrusted with, is not only an indispensable part of the mission of
the party, but also an irreplaceable front in the overall diplomacy
of the nation. Such dual responsibilities of the external work of
the Party and the way it is defined requires us to have a global
vision and strategic way of thinking, and to carry out external
exchanges by taking into full consideration both domestic and
international conditions, render active support to the general
foreign strategy as well as to the overall plan of work of the Party
and the state. In performing our specific duties, we shall pay more
attention to promoting interactions between domestic and
international developments, try and put external environment and
international experience to good used, do our due part in
safeguarding national interests in sovereignty, security and
development so that China will play its constructive role in
safeguarding world peace and promoting common development, and will
give impetus through its own development to the building of a
harmonious world of lasting peace and shared prosperity.
4. To strengthen exchanges and deepen cooperation in a bit to
demonstrate the CPC as a democratic, progressive, open-minded and
innovative ruling party whose purpose is to serve the interests of
the public and the people. As the international influence of the CPC
continues to grow, more and more foreign political parties and
organizations are willing to engage with us. It is an important
agenda for us to address as for how to make the most of party
diplomacy as a showcase of the CPC. We shall enhance exchanges with
foreign parties and whereby open an important window for the CPC to
observe and grasp trends of developments in the outside world, and a
window for the international community to learn about and understand
our nation and our Party. Through party diplomacy, we shall further
extend a clear message to the world that China, who is committed to
reform and opening-up, will unswervingly follow the road of peaceful
development; that the pioneering Chinese people will firmly go down
the path of socialism of their own way; and that the ever
progressing Communist Party of China will persist in the glorious
cause for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
(The author is minister of the International
Department of the Central Committee of the CPC.)
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Source: Qiushi
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