In recent years, the CPC's external work has developed along more pragmatic lines whilst still adhering to ideological guidelines. Through exchanges between political parties, the CPC has intensified its research in foreign countries. Themes such as the governance capability, the administration of state affairs, environmental protection, social security, economic development mode, financial crisis management, and job markets have dominated the field lately. Symposiums held jointly by the CPC and foreign political parties and political organizations have enriched the content of inter-party exchanges and also diversified modes of overseas exchanges.

For instance, a series of international conferences has succeeded in helping Chinese enterprises cope with the international financial crisis and building new platforms to promote economic cooperation between China and other countries and regions. Examples include the China-Africa Forum on Medium-sized and Small Enterprises held in Wenzhou in 2008, the China-Arabia and China-Africa Forum on Medium-sized and Small Enterprises held in Ningbo in 2009, the China-Arabian Gulf States Forum on Petrochemical Industrial Cooperation held in Yangzhou in 2010, the International Conference of Asian Political Parties on Poverty Relief held in Yunnan in 2010, and the China-Africa Forum on Agricultural Cooperation, also in 2010.

From May 16 to 18, 2011, the Second China-Europe High-level Political Parties Forum, sponsored by the CPC, was held in Beijing and Tianjin. This is a high-level forum focusing on China's development strategy together with European strategic plans. It was attended by 31 party leaders from 19 European countries, one leader of a regional party in Europe, and five leaders of European Parliament party groups. Xi Jinping, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the CPC and vice president of the People's Republic of China, met with them on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.

There were in-depth discussions of China's 12th Five-year Plan and Europe's 2020 Strategy, addressing developmental concepts, direction, policies and implementation. The forum also promoted China-Europe economic cooperation. Industrial and business representatives held parallel talks on economic and trade issues, and formalized intentions to cooperate in the fields of new-energy sources, new materials, energy conservation and environmental protection, information and bio-technology industries and high-end manufacturing. The forum has invigorated the development of the China-Europe comprehensive strategic partnership, further raised the level of China-Europe inter-party exchange, and opened a new channel for pragmatic China-Europe cooperation.

Dr. KONG GENHONG is a deputy director of the Contemporary World Research Center.