A GRAND GATHERING OF POLITICAL PARTIES

By Wang Fengjuan

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting in Beijing on Dec. 1, 2017.

CPC is willing to work with foreign political parties to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and create a better world

On Nov. 24, the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee hosted a press briefing on the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting. Two posters were released at the briefing.

One poster features a blue and white porcelain teacup with green tea and an image of the world map, on a rippled water surface.

The other poster features a Chinese teacup, an Arabian teacup and a Western-style coffee cup, all with green tea and featuring a yin-yang pattern.

Both of the posters use“tea” as the main creative element, skillfully applying the Chinese cultural tradition of drinking tea with friends,which vividly reflects the theme of this dialogue that building a community of a shared future for mankind and creating a better world is the responsibility of global political parties. The implied meaning of the first poster is that people all over the world are members of a community sharing the same cup of tea. The implied meaning of the second poster is that China’s proposals have originated from traditional philosophical views,such as “harmony in diversity”,“prospering harmoniously” and“respecting and treasuring one another’s cultures and values”.

The CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting ran from Nov. 30 to Dec.3 and drew worldwide attention as a major groundbreaking event in CPC history, the history of world political parties and the history of the development of human society.

The theme of the high-level meeting was “Working Together Towards a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind and a Better World: Responsibilities of Political Parties”. What did the meeting present to the world?

Pooling Wisdom and Strength

To build a community of a shared future for mankind,we need to pool wisdom and strengthen human societies. As Chinese President Xi Jinping put it, we have to enable people of different countries, races, beliefs and cultural backgrounds to enhance mutual understanding and jointly build a community of a shared future for mankind.

Before the opening of the meeting, Xi met with Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President of the Cambodian People’s Party and Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, both of whom were in Beijing to attend the meeting.

In his meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi, Xi said that the two countries have understood and supported each other and kept close coordination and cooperation on issues involving each other’s core interests and major concerns.

Xi suggested that the two sides keep their relations on the right track, implement consensus reached by both sides and nurture new growth points, such as the construction of the China-Myanmar economic corridor, so as to advance bilateral ties.

Aung San Suu Kyi said developing relations with China is of particular significance to Myanmar. She noted that she has fully felt the sincere friendship of the CPC and the Chinese government, and that the National League for Democracy (NLD) appreciates the achievements and rich experience of the CPC in party and state governance, hoping to deepen exchanges with the CPC in this regard. She said she supports China’s proposal of building the Myanmar-China economic corridor.

In his meeting with Hun Sen,Xi called Hun Sen a good friend,old friend and true friend of the CPC and the Chinese people.The year 2018 marks the 60th anniversary of China-Cambodia diplomatic ties. Xi called on both sides to take the opportunity to advance relations.

Xi emphasized that Cambodia has always firmly supported China on issues concerning its core interests. He expressed support for Cambodia’s efforts to maintain development and stability, adding that China expects to boost cooperation with Cambodia in defense,law-enforcement and security as well as other areas. Xi also called for stronger bilateral coordination in multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations,East Asia Cooperation and Lancang-Mekong Cooperation. The aim is to jointly forge an unbreakable China-Cambodia community of shared future.

Hun Sen called China a trustworthy and close friend of Cambodia. The governance experience of the CPC has been an inspiration to the Cambodian People’s Party, Hun Sen said,adding that Cambodia hopes to learn more from China’s governance experience to improve its own abilities.

Leaders of nearly 300 world political parties and organizations gathered in Beijing for the meeting, which fully embodied the attraction of the CPC. It was also a display of the value and significance for world political parties to work together for a community of a shared future for mankind.

The theme of this high-level meeting clearly defines it as the responsibilities of world political parties to help mankind out of difficult situations and create a better world.

Harmony and Diversity

The theme of this high-level meeting clearly defines it as the responsibilities of world political parties to help mankind out of difficult situations and create a better world. This is a key link in global governance that will vigorously promote the development of mankind.

The CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting harvested fruitful results, including the Beijing Initiative — an analysis of the complex situation and severe challenges facing the world today. The initiative pointed out that “humanity’s aspiration and needs for a better life are on the rise”, while “problems arising out of unbalanced and inadequate development become further pronounced on a global scale”. The common ideals and aspirations of ours lie in the building of a better world. As the development of human society finds itself at a crossroads, “we should foster and embrace the idea of interconnectivity of interests and a shared future in place of mindsets of self concern,and we should also promote the building of a community of a shared future for mankind and a better world.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping (center,front row) poses with foreign guests for a group photo before the opening ceremony of the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting in Beijing.

Ruan Zongze, vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said,“The CPC has always regarded it as its mission to make greater contribution for mankind. To forge a community of a shared future is a common endeavor,which is dependent on mutual understanding and trust between different countries.Exchanges between political parties like this meeting will undoubtedly enhance the mutual understanding between different parties and establish some theoretical foundation for further development.”

Ei Sun Oh, senior advisor on international affairs of Malaysia’s Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI), said that the idea of a community of a shared future proposed by Chinese leaders calls for furthering cooperation among political parties. The essence of the Belt and Road Initiative is mutually beneficial cooperation through interconnectivity, including policy coordination. The dialogue among political parties can be a platform for the people along the route to have a better understanding of the idea and share its benefits.

New Type of Relations Among Political Parties

The CPC has always attached importance to the development of friendly relations with the political parties of other countries. But this is the first time the CPC has hosted such a high-level meeting of this scale.In the new era of socialism with Chinese characteristics,the meeting has broken new ground for the CPC to introduce its philosophy to other political parties in the world in a systematic manner.With this dialogue, the CPC has shared with other parties more of its experience and more of its stories. The attendance of so many high-ranking world political party leaders in this high-level meeting proves the attraction of the CPC — a governing party with much experience to share with its counterparts in developing countries.

The CPC with Xi Jinping as the core has introduced a series of policy measures. China has achieved leapfrog economic and social development despite a complex and grim internal and external environment.As the world’s second largest economy, its success has been acknowledged by the international community.The Belt and Road Initiative advocates interconnectivity among countries along the route. To push forward the building of the Belt and Road and a community of a shared future, the CPC has to be in closer contact with the political parties of other countries.

In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the highlevel meeting, General Secretary Xi said: “The CPC would neither import foreign models of development nor export the Chinese model. We will not ask other countries to copy the Chinese way.” This statement was applauded by many political party leaders from developing countries.

“I’m a strong supporter of this model of party-to-party relations,”said Bhokin Bhalakula, a senior member of the Pheu Thai Party(For Thais Party) and President of the Thai-Chinese Culture and Economy Association of Thailand.“A meeting like this provides world political parties an opportunity to interact with one another on the most pressing common issues. As a member of the Pheu Thai Party,I think our party should have a better understanding of the CPC and learn from its experience in governance for the betterment of my own country. That doesn’t mean we are going to copy the Chinese model. But the Chinese experience can serve as a reference for us.”