Beijing, March 31st—Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC) held a video talk here today with Jean-Marc Kabund, Secretary General of the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Song said, under the leadership of President Xi Jinping and President Felix Tshisekedi, the well-established friendship between China and the DRC have been deepening and the political mutual trust between the two countries has been continuously strengthened. This year, the DRC joined the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, opening up broad prospects for bilateral cooperation. The establishment of inter-party relations between the Communist Party of China(CPC) and the UDPS will surely promote new progress in the strategic partnership of win-win cooperation between China and the DRC. Under the new circumstances, the CPC is willing to strengthen high-level exchanges and strategic communication with the UDPS on the basis of the four principles of intra-party exchanges, deepen mutual learning in governance of the Party and the state focusing on such issues as Party building, poverty reduction, and youth development, and enhance cooperation in epidemic prevention and control, economy and trade and other fields. It is hoped that the two sides will strengthen international coordination, jointly safeguard international fairness, justice and multilateralism, maintain regional stability and prosperity, safeguard the fundamental interests of developing countries, and jointly build a closer China-Africa community with a shared future.

Song briefed on the ruling concept and achievements of the CPC since its establishment 100 years ago. He expressed, the CPC adheres to the original mission of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, leads the Chinese people to unite together and work hard, pioneer and innovate. We have achieved a tremendous transformation-we have stood up, grown rich, and become strong, and witnessed an overall victory in the fight against poverty. This year marks the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period and the Long-Range Objectives through the Year 2035, as well as the beginning of a new journey to fully build a modern socialist china. China’s development will provide more development opportunities for Africa and other countries in the world. China is ready to work with the DRC to deepen the integration between the 14th Five-Year Plan and the DRC’s 10-year development plan for defeating poverty so as to deliver more benefits to the two countries and peoples.

Kabund conveyed President Tshisekedi’s good wishes to President Xi Jinping, expressing his warm congratulations on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC and sincere admiration for the great development achievements that the Chinese people have made under the leadership of the CPC. The Congolese side cherishes the traditional friendship with China. The inter-party relations between the UDPS and the CPC built this year is of special significance. It is hoped that the ruling parties of the two countries, guided by the important consensus reached by the leaders of China and the DRC, will strengthen party-to-party exchanges and experience exchanges in governance so as to promote bilateral political mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation. The DRC is willing to work with China to contribute to peace and development of the region and the world with the development concept of fairness and openness.

Li Mingxiang, Assistant-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, Zhu Jing, Chinese Ambassador to the DRC and Yang Bei, Charge d’Affaire of the Embassy of the DRC in China were present.

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