BEIJING, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Tetsuzo Fuwa, chairman of the Central Committee of the Japanese Communist Party (JCP), called all countries and parties here Saturday to build a "world without wars."

  He issued the challenge while addressing a subplenary session of the third International Conference of the Asian Political Parties (ICAPP).

  Fuwa said it has become a "common" and "urgent" task for the people of the whole world to establish a "world without wars," namely, an international order that guarantees peace.

  At the early part of the 21 century, currents aiming at a "world without wars" based on a new international order for peace with the United Nations at the center, are developing, he said. "Today, great changes have taken place within the forces which will establish and defend an international order for peace."

  During the past half century, the people of the world have made great strides toward multipolarity, he said, adding that some major powers had raised strong voices against the war in Iraq.

  He quoted JCP statistics and said that out of 191 UN member countries, 49 countries with an aggregate population of 1.2 billion supported the war, while 142 countries with a total population of 5 billion did not support the war.

  Fuwa stressed that Asian nations must take an important role in establishing a "world without wars," since 60 percent of the world's population lives in Asia, and Asia will carry more significant weight in the 21st country in the world both economically and politically.

  "The rich cultural achievements since ancient times, as well as the scars of wars and devastation from colonial rule, are inscribed on Asia's history. If Asia strives to become a continent without wars, to establish stability in the region and an international order for peace and to send out a message of its common will for establishing an international order for peace, it will be a fitting undertaking for the historic year 2005," he said.

  2005 marks the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, of the founding of the United Nations and of the establishment of the UN Charter. It is also the 50th anniversary of the Bandung Conference.

  The JCP is not a ruling party, Fuwa said. But from a position to work for peace in Asia and in the world, it has placed emphasis on international diplomatic activities. "In these activities, what has deeply impressed us is the fact that many governments, parties and peoples in Asian countries fervently hope that Japan will develop independent peaceful diplomacy based on its position as a major Asian country."

  The JCP considers it to be its responsibility as an opposition party to bring Japan's diplomatic course in line with world currents for peace, he said.

  The JCP made an extensive revision of its party constitution in January this year. In the new constitution, the party sets forth the "policy of peaceful diplomacy Japan should seek," which includes the idea that Japan should express remorse for its history of war, aggression and colonization, should champion the international order for peace as established by the UN Charter and oppose any hegemonic attempts to violate or to destroy it.

  He said the JCP, basing its activities on these policies, will continue to work to develop dialogues and cooperation with other political parties in Asia.

  Delegates from more than 80 political parties or organizations of 35 Asian countries attended the third ICAPP meeting, which opened in Beijing Friday.

  Initiated in 2000, the first two ICAPP conferences were held in the Philippines and Thailand in September 2000 and November 2002 respectively. The CPC sent delegates to participate in the previous two meetings. 

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