BEIJING, Aug. 11 -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) will host the third International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) in Beijing from Sept. 3 to 5 in a bid to promote regional cooperation.

Wang Jiarui, minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, said in an interview here Wednesday that the conference was of great significance to the CPC and to China.

"Such conferences played a unique role in promoting exchanges, increasing consensus, enhancing mutual understanding and trust between Asian parties, improving bilateral ties between Asian countries and stimulating regional cooperation," Wang said.

"Asian political parties can discuss wide-ranging issues of common concern, exchange in-depth views to reach consensus through mutual dialogue, and promote healthy, stable and constant regional cooperation via party coordination," Wang said.

The conference will also offer a chance for the Asian friends to learn more about the actual situation of China and the CPC, Wang said.

"We hope that the conference will help other Asian political parties understand the CPC's policy and ideas on the state governing and China's policy of building a good neighborly relationship and partnership with its neighboring countries," Wang said.

The conference will be beneficial to the promotion of mutual understanding and cooperation between Asian parties, to the growth of regional cooperation and to the comprehensive and multi-level development of ties between China and its Asian partners, he said.

With the changing international situation, the political parties are playing an increasingly important role in the political life of the state, Wang said.

The ICAPP is an open forum for exchange and dialogue. All participants, despite their differences in ideologies, will have in-depth discussions based on mutual respect and forge a bridge for communication and cooperation between Asian parties, Wang said.

"Therefore, the ICAPP is conformed with the new situation and the CPC's foreign policy, reflecting the common aspirations of Asian parties as well," he said.

Based on the principles of independence, equality, mutual respect and no interference in each other's internal affairs, the CPC has carried out various exchanges and cooperation with political parties worldwide, since China's opening-up and reform

more than two decades ago, involving more than 400 political parties in more than 140 countries and regions.

Conducting exchanges with Asian parties was a priority of the CPC, which contributed to the state-to-state ties, friendship between peoples and regional cooperation, Wang said, noting such cooperation was appreciated and welcomed by Asian parties and peoples.

The theme of the third ICAPP is "Exchanges, Cooperation, Development" and the main topics include "regional security and multilateral cooperation", "economic growth and social progress", and "political party building and national development".

The CPC participated in the previous two conferences and made positive contributions to their success, Wang said, noted CPC leaders and Chinese state leaders will attend this conference.

With representatives from more than 80 political parties of more than 30 Asian countries, this is the first time for the CPC to host an international political parties' conference.

The CPC attaches great importance to the conference and has specially forged the organizing committee of the conference, with Zeng Qinghong, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice-president of China, as its honorary chairman, and Liu Yunshan, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, as its chairman.

Preparations for the conference have gone smoothly and its scale will exceed previous ones, Wang said.

The ICAPP was initiated in 2000. The first two conferences were held in the Philippines and Thailand in September 2000 and November 2002 respectively.

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