CPC Reaches Out to Political Parties in the Developed World

The third forum in 2009 returned to Oxfordshire and focused on the China-UK partnership amid the financial crisis. The delegates discussed countermeasures and impacts of the crisis and exchanged ideas on the relationship between the media and politics. The two sides reached general consensus on many issues and enhanced mutual understanding and political trust.

The fourth forum was held in Beijing in September 2010. Participants conducted frank, in-depth exchanges and discussions on the theme of “China-UK Partnership in the Post Crisis World” and reached general consensus on key issues. The two sides shared the view that due to their economic complementarities and ever increasing interdependence, the two countries should enhance reciprocal cooperation in areas such as green energy, sustainable development and two-way investment; they should jointly stand opposed to trade protectionism, involve each other in candid dialogues on the basis of equality and mutual respect, and properly settle differences and sensitive issues in order to promote constant development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Oxfordshire played host to the most recent forum in September 2011, and the two sides focused on how to develop a partnership that would facilitate their common economic growth. Over 30 young politicians held in-depth discussions on opportunities and challenges that confronted the economic and trade cooperation, common growth, social reform and party development of the two countries. Delegates exchanged opinions on the UK’s Plan for Growth and China’s 12th Five-year Plan, as well as their development strategies for the next five years. They all agreed that it was their shared mission to boost economic growth, guarantee and improve livelihood, and realize sustainable development. The two sides also shared experiences in achieving the conceptual and policy innovations of their respective parties, and had candid exchanges on how to maintain the ruling party position.

Over the years the Forum has developed into a key tool that promotes understanding and friendship between the CPC and British political parties and their young politicians and pushes forward healthy and stable development of the China-UK bilateral ties.

China-EU High-Level Political Parties Forum

The China-EU High Level Political Parties Forum was inaugurated in Beijing in May 2010. Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, gave a keynote speech at the opening ceremony. Present at the forum were representatives from the Political Bureau and Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and over 50 high-level leaders and politicians of European parties and party groups of the European Parliament. They held discussions on global challenges and China-EU cooperation and also delved into topics such as post-crisis international financial system reform and global governance, climate change and environmental protection, and the role of China-EU party cooperation in bilateral relations.

The second forum was held in May 2011 in Beijing and Tianjian. The theme was China’s 12th Five-year Plan and Europe’s Strategy 2020: New Opportunities and Prospects for China-Europe Cooperation. Director Liu Yunshan of the CPC Secretariat delivered a keynote speech, and Martin Schulz, then leader of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament and current president of the European Parliament, and a few other delegates also addressed the forum. They agreed that the forum, as high-level dialogue in the context of changing dynamics in the EU-China relationship, would provide an important opportunity for Chinese and European party leaders to understand China-EU development strategies and substantial cooperation in the future and promote communication between parties and the long-term development of country-to-country relationships. Leaders of 31 parties from 19 European countries, one regional party and five party groups of the European Parliament participated in activities. Economic and trade talks for entrepreneurs were also held during the forum.

“China and Europe cooperate to meet challenges” was the theme of this year’s forum, held in Brussels in May. The CPC delegation and about 100 delegates from regional European parties and major national parties from Europe attended. Wang Jiarui, minister of the CPC Central Committee International Liaison Department, delivered the keynote speech at the opening ceremony. Leaders of European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Group of the European People’s Party, Confederal Group of the European United Left - Nordic Green Left (GUE / NGL), and European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party also gave speeches. They highly praised the strategic and practical nature of the forum and said the EU would like to work with China to make the forum an important platform for enhancing communication and practical cooperation that would contribute to peace, prosperity and stability in the EU, China and the world.

High-level Dialogue with U.S. Political Parties

The final example is the four high-level dialogues held between the CPC and main parties of the U.S. in the last few years. The first took place in Beijing on March 31, 2010. Wang Jiarui, head of the International Liaison Department of the CPC Central Committee, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Richard Williamson gave speeches. Wang said the CPC and U.S. political parties and the statesmen of China and the U.S., one as the world’s largest developing country and the other as its largest developed country, should transcend differences in ideology, social systems and cultural traditions and abandon prejudices so as to continuously strengthen China-U.S. trust and promote the healthy, stable, and long-term development of their bilateral ties. The U.S. side acknowledged the importance of China to the U.S. as well as the world and that it was in the two sides’ shared interests to develop U.S.-China ties. Madeleine Albright, as representative of the Democrats, explained the function and operation of American parties and expressed her willingness to understand the CPC through dialogues. Richard Williamson, who was representing the Republicans, pointed out that though political parties may differ in their political ideas, they are often confronted with the same or similar problems and tasks during the course of promoting their national prosperity.

Wang, Albright and Williamson returned the following two years to chair the second and third high-level dialogues held in Washington D.C. and Beijing respectively. In Washington the two sides conducted dialogues on governance philosophy and practices, China-U.S. relations and major international and regional issues of common interest. Exchanges in Beijing were expanded to talk about economic and social policy adjustment and innovation. The Chinese side reiterated China’s principles and position on the Taiwan issue and demanded the U.S. take practical measures to maintain the overall condition of their bilateral ties as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

The fourth high-level dialogue was held in Washington D.C. in December 2011, attended by the CPC delegation and delegates of the Democratic and Republican parties. Wang Jiarui and Madelaine Albright again represented their parties at the forum and delivered speeches at the opening ceremony, this time joined by former senator Jim Web as representative of the Republican Party. Representatives of the Democratic and Republican parties recognized the important role played by party-to-party dialogue in advancing the China-U.S. relationship, which is one of the most important bilateral relationships in the world. The discussions centered on two major topics: “The Future of China and the U.S. and the Role of Political Parties” and “Common Interests and Pragmatic Cooperation Between China and the U.S. in the Asia-Pacific Region.”

These three cases show the flexible nature of exchanges between the CPC and parties from developed countries. During the events, both sides explained the current political and economic situations of their country and exchanged opinions on issues of shared concern such as world peace and development, multi-polarization, globalization and the relationship between major countries. The communication was also candid about party and state governance, democracy, and human rights and sought reciprocal cooperation without hiding differences and disagreements, as open and honest communication helps enhance understanding, friendship, and cooperation.