The First International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) was held in Manila on September 18-19, 2000. It was sponsored and hosted by LAKAS-CMD of the Philippines (then called LAKAS-NUCD-CMDP). The Conference was attended by about 180 people: representatives of 46 political parties (including 16 parties in power) from 26 Asian countries and observers from European, Latin American and African political parties and foundations, as well as some specially invited guests. A number of important statesmen and party leaders from Asia attended the conference, including Chuan Leekpai, Prime Minister of Thailand and Head of the  Democratic Party; Abdurrahaman Wahid, President of Indonesia and founder of the National Awakening Party; Prince Norodom Ranariddh, President of the Cambodian National Assembly and Chairman of the Funcinpec Party; Kim Young-sam, former president of the Republic of Korea and Leader of the Grand National Party; Fidel Ramos, former president of the Philippines; and Benazir Bhutto, former president of Pakistan. Ma Wenpu, Vice Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), represented the CPC at the conference.

  The theme of the First ICAPP was “to build bridges and foster a culture of partnership among Asian political parties.” Adhering to the principles of seeking consensus while reserving differences and holding discussions as equals, representatives of political parties throughout Asia delivered speeches at general meetings and participated in group discussions on the three topics of Asia’s Road of Development, Peace and Security, and Democracy and Good Governance. At the opening ceremony, Jose de Venecia, Chairman of this Conference and former speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, noted that in the last century political parties in Asia led the people of their countries in overthrowing colonial rule and creating economic miracles, and said that all Asian political parties should now work for strengthening regional political cooperation in order to build up a peaceful, free and prosperous Asia. Former ROK president Kim Young-sam noted that for a long time, aside from bilateral exchanges, Asia has not had a mechanism for multilateral exchanges, but now we have this conference. We can come together, exchange opinions, and communicate with each other, and this is helpful for strengthening unity among Asian countries and propelling Asia along the road toward stability and prosperity. Ma Wenpu, CPC representative at the conference and Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, introduced the CPC’s history and its present domestic and foreign policies at the conference and stressed that the CPC is willing to establish and develop relations with all Asian political parties on the basis of the four principles for party-to-party contacts and to work with all of them to establish a new political and economic order that is just and equitable and build a peaceful, stable, developed and prosperous Asia.

  The Conference released the Asian Declaration, which stresses that peace and stability have a direct bearing on the well-being of the people of all Asian countries and appeals for settling conflicts peacefully and strengthening cooperation in regional dialogue on security, in disarmament and in the fight against transnational crimes. It calls on the countries to strengthen economic cooperation, guard against possible future financial crises, and explore the possibility of establishing an Asian Monetary Fund, a common Asian currency and a common market in Asia. It asks all the governments to increase their poverty alleviation efforts, utilize political parties’ role as a bridge through which the people participate in the political processes, and establish highly efficient and transparent administrative mechanisms. Representatives from the various countries proposed holding this kind of conference every other year so that it can gradually become a permanent mechanism for exchanges and cooperation between Asian political parties. The First ICAPP established the ICAPP Standing Committee and chose Jose de Venecia as its Chairman.

  The First ICAPP made a positive contribution to promoting cooperation in Asia. Its aim of increasing regional political, economic and security cooperation and promoting Asian peace and development is in accord with the trend of Asia’s historical development. The Conference is an embodiment of the political reality that the role of Asian political parties is constantly expanding, and it reflects the hope of Asian political parties to keep up with the times, expand regional cooperation and promote common development. It plays a positive role in increasing mutual understanding between Asian political parties, improving bilateral relations and promoting regional cooperation, and it complements the bilateral relations and mechanisms between governments. It is an important forum where Asian political parties can transcend ideological differences and carry out multilateral exchanges, dialogue and cooperation.