Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s Central Committee, summarized the CPC's international work in 2007.
Reporter: The 17th National Congress is not only a great event for the Party and for the nation, but also significant in international politics this year: it caught the world's attention. What did the International Department contribute to the 17th Congress?
Wang Jiarui: The 17th National Congress of the CPC convened at a vital juncture of our reform and development, and was profoundly significant. This year's international work mainly centers efforts on the 17th Congress; preparing for the meeting; providing relevant services; and giving publicity to and implementing the policies of the Congress. In terms of inter-party communication and relations, we explored several routes and adopted precise methods to promote the Scientific Outlook on Development and other innovative achievements resulting from CPC theory and practice to the international community. We also informed foreign political parties and governments of the significance and preparations for the Congress, directing their attention to and facilitating a better understanding of the Congress. We have also focused on accumulating information and knowledge from other political parties and administrative experience from other governments, for the Party's Construction, during regular inter-party communication.
After the closing session, we wasted no time in briefing foreign services, guided by the general plan of the Central Committee. Two members of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau each paid official visits to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Viet Nam, Laos and Cuba. During their visits, they reported on the 17th Congress to the Party and State leaders of these four socialist countries; received constructive responses; and their visits yielded a positive effect.
Reporter: For the duration of the Congress, People's Daily published messages and letters of congratulations from foreign Party and State leaders every day. How would you interpret this?
Wang Jiarui: Our department is specifically responsible for the receipt and handling of the messages and letters of congratulations from foreign Party and State leaders. For the duration of the meeting, we received 640 messages and letters in praise of the great achievements of the CPC，the Party in power, from 310 political parties and organizations in 150 nations. These messages also expressed desires to expand inter-party communication with the CPC. The 17th Congress serves as a showcase of the CPC's international image by fully and positively demonstrating the CPC's democratic policies, progress, opening and innovation. The Congress has also promoted the international acknowledgement of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, and the CPC's core missions: to build the Party in the interest of the public, and to govern in the name of the people.
Reporter: As 2007 comes to a close, what new achievements have been made in the CPC's international work in the presence of complicated international conditions and the ever-changing status of the world's political parties?
Wang Jiarui: The situations of the world's political parties in 2007 have been generally stable with slight fluctuations. Globalization carries forward the reform of the Party's Politics. The interaction of international relations worldwide increasingly looms; and grows dynamic and profound.
International work is integral to the CPC's cause: the battle front of the State's general diplomacy, and the battle field of the State's Soft Power Construction. Looking back on this year, international work was crucial to promoting international relations and building a constructive external environment. We expanded the Party's communication methods with Socialist countries; while consolidating a traditional friendship with each. The Party's relations with neighboring countries improved substantially. Of the 300 alternating, inter-Party visits this year, one out of three was with a neighboring country. Moreover, this year's high-profile Party communication with neighbors deepened mutual trust. More significantly, we went deeper into communication and dialogues with mainstream political parties and organizations in developed countries to streamline bilateral relations and remove possible misunderstandings and prejudices.
Reporter: Would you please highlight some points worth noting in this year's international work?
Wang Jiarui: There are three: first, more substantial communication has been established to respond to the specific conditions of both sides. Secondly, a new space has been created for more involvement in and more cooperation under general diplomatic guidelines, since inter-party relations prove to be critical to domestic relations. Thirdly, ‘the people come first' – the core of the Scientific Outlook on Development – and popular "soft diplomacy" have both been put into effect.
By People's Daily Online
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