Speech at the First International Conference Of Asian Political Parties

Ma Wenpu,

Vice Minister, International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China

Honorable Chairman Jose de Venecia, 

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

As the representative of the Communist Party of China, today I feel greatly honored to be invited to the First International Conference of Asian Political Parties and address it. First, please allow me to extend cordial greetings and sincere thanks to H.E. Mr. Jose de Venecia for his initiative and active preparations for the event. His unremitting efforts have brought together political parties from Asian countries. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my best wishes and high considerations to representatives of various political parties present here.

With a vast territory and a huge population, Asia is a continent with time-honored civilizations. For millenniums, the diligent and courageous people of Asia have created splendid oriental civilizations, making important contributions to human progress. Although a vast number of Asian countries suffered colonial aggression and plunder in modern times, the people of Asia have been unyielding and working hard and composed a magnificent epic of political awakening and economic rise in the 20th century. In the wake of World War II, dozens of Asian countries won national independence by shaking off the yoke of colonialism. They emerged on the world stage as equal members of the international community and initiated the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the Ten Bandung Principles, making outstanding contributions to the struggle for a just and reasonable international political order and the maintenance of world peace. Since 1960s and 1970s, Asian countries have adopted a "catching up" development strategy by integrating the experience of other countries with their own specific conditions. Rapidly emerging from the post-war ruins, they achieved sustained and high economic growth. As a result, they have created enormous wealth and significantly elevated the people's living standards, making the region one of which with the greatest dynamism and potential for development in the world.

Although the Asian people have scored brilliant achievements, the way ahead remains rough and tortuous. The seeds of division and antagonism sewn by colonialists in Asian countries are yet to be completely rooted out. The Cold War reminiscence in Asia has not been entirely eliminated. The unjust and unreasonable international order has not been changed fundamentally in the post-Cold War era. Development in the region is imbalanced. People of many countries are still living in poverty. Ethnic and religious tensions, border and territorial disputes, and regional separatism pose a serious threat to regional security and stability. The financial crisis that swept over East Asia at the end of the 1990s will have a lingering negative impact on the development of Asian economy. The current world situation is changing drastically. Information revolution develops by leaps and bounds. Economic globalization is moving forward in a fast pace while political multipolarity is irreversible. World situation in general continues to move towards relaxation. However hegemonism and power politics still exist, and the world is far from tranquil. People of Asia are confronted with unprecedented opportunities as well as severe challenges. It is a solemn and urgent task for us political parties of Asian countries to find effective solutions to these problems in a bid to safeguard peace, promote development and bring a stable and prosperous Asia into the 21st century.

Since the founding of Whig of Britain, the very first political party in 1670s, party politics experienced more than 3 centuries of growth worldwide before it eventually grew into the most universal and important political phenomenon in the world. As the one of the main bodies of politics in countries around the world, the role and function of party politics are mainly felt in participating elections, controlling the government, holding public offices, formulating policies and supervision of the government. At a time when peace and development are faced with new situation and problems, issues of the world need to be addressed through concerted efforts by various regional and international organizations, different governments, legislatures, political parties and civic societies, each of which does its part from its own perspective. Due to their very nature, the role of political parties has been strengthened rather than weakened. At present, political parties in various countries are most active in interacting with their foreign counterparts, playing an important role in the present-day international relations. As they do not directly involve in specific matters between governments, party-to-parry contacts are not bound by diplomatic protocol and formalities. In-depth exchanges of views can be carried out on domestic, international issues and bilateral relations, or experiences can be shared in governing the parties and states to communicate ideas, increase understanding, strengthen cooperation and make friends. Today, we are here for the first conference of Asian political parties. It is a major event for political parties of Asian countries, which marks a good beginning for closer cooperation between them. We believe that it will have positive impact on the maintenance of stability and peace and the promotion of all-round social progress in Asia.

Since it was founded in July of 1921, the Communist Party of China has traversed a course of 79 years. In the first 28 years, our party led the Chinese people in winning national liberation and independence through most arduous struggles. After New China was established, our party started to lead the Chinese people in establishing the fundamental system of socialism. Since the end of 1970s, at the initiative of Mr. Deng Xiaoping, our party reviewed its historical experience and adopted the policies of reform and opening-up by proceeding from China's actual conditions and embarked on the road of building socialism with Chinese characteristics. After 20-odd years' efforts, we have achieved sustained, rapid and sound economic growth. Last year, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of New China and had a smooth return of Macao to Chinese sovereignty. The two major events enormously aroused the enthusiasm of the people of all ethnic groups to rejuvenate the country and enhance national cohesiveness.

As a ruling party, the Communist Party of China attaches great importance to party building. On the theoretical front, we emphasize the need to arm the entire party with Deng Xiaoping Theory in order to further improve our ideological and political work. On the organizational front, we stress adherence to the party's system of democratic centralism so as to strengthen the force of party's cadres, grassroots organizations and improve its style of work. In the process of reform and opening up, we have constantly make efforts to build a clean and honest party and fight against corruption. General Secretary Jiang Zemin has clearly put forward the guiding principles that "Running the state well begins with running the Party well and the Party must be strictly run". He also pointed out that, in the face of the new century, the Communist Party of China should always represent the requirements of the development of China's advanced productive forces, the orientation of China's advanced culture and the fundamental interests of the greatest majority of the Chinese people. This important proposition is a new generalization of our party's nature, purposes and tasks in the new period. It constitutes the basis of our party's existence, the foundation of its ruling position and the source of its strength.

Attaching importance to its contacts with foreign political parties, the Communist Party of China regards its relations with other parties as an important component of the country's overall diplomacy. It adheres and safeguards the independent foreign policy of peace of the country. Our party is not particular about differences in ideology and social systems. It strives to forge and develop relations of various forms with all foreign parties that are willing to have contacts with our party on the basis of the four basic principles of "independence, complete equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs". Independence forms the basis of the new type of inter-party relationships. Our party has full respect for the independent status of each foreign party and their rights to choose their own social systems and development road. Complete equality serves as the key to the new type of inter-party relations. All parties, regardless of their size, should treat each other as equals. No party can impose its own views or practice on others. Mutual respect constitutes the prerequisite for forging the new type of inter-party relations. Each party should respect the experience of the parties and people of other countries as well as their domestic and foreign policies formulated according to the conditions of their own countries and parties. The internal affairs of each party should be handled by itself. No outside intervention or coercion is allowed. And party-to-party relationship should not be used to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries.

Since the start of reform and opening up, our party's external contacts have been expanding. More and more foreign parties regard the establishment and growth of their relations with the Communist Party of China as one of the important ways to improve and develop their ties with China. To date, the Communist Party of China has established links and contacts in diverse forms with nearly 400 political parties and organizations of various types in more than 140 countries and regions around the world. In the interaction, the parties can have in-depth exchanges of views on various issues of common interest in a frank manner. Both political and economic issues are on the agenda. Both bilateral relations and international issues are covered. And the experience in running the state or building the party is shared. Such interactions on the basis of mutual respect and seeking common ground while shelving differences have contributed to mutual understanding and friendship, producing good political and economic results, which in turn have promoted the growth of state-to-state relations.

Ladies and gentlemen, friends,

With the sails unfurled, the ship of the 21st century is moving toward the shore of a bright future. Let us join hands and make concerted efforts for the establishment of a just and equitable new international political and economic order. Let's work for a peaceful, stable, more developed and prosperous Asia.

Thank you for your attention.