CPC’s Relations with Political Parties in Latin America
Characteristics
Within a little more than half a century, the CPC has initiated and developed its relations with political parties in Latin America, and such relationships share several major characteristics.
One is the broadening scope of exchanges and diversity of the parties involved. The number of political parties in Latin America involved in exchanges with the CPC has now increased to more than 90, having risen from just 30 in the 1970s and 60 in the 1980s. The range of these parties has also expanded from the original communist organizations before China’s reform and opening-up to ruling parties, parties in joint government and influential opposition parties in more than 30 countries in the region, including major political parties in 12 countries that have no diplomatic relations with China.
Exchanges with political parties are also happening in increasingly diverse forms. They have evolved from one-way to reciprocal exchanges in which the CPC both welcomes visiting guests and sends delegations overseas. In the past, the CPC usually played host, inviting delegations of political parties in Latin America to attend its national congresses or their leaders to visit China. Today, CPC representatives often show up as guests in various parts of Latin America for conferences and important events hosted by local and regional political parties and organizations. Party contacts have also extended from the top level downward to functionary departments, local branches, and research institutions. Exchanges of working groups and seminars on specific topics are also common.
As the scope of contact broadens, their content has become more substential. Nowadays, exchanges are no longer limited to ceremonial friendship and the sharing of revolutionary anecdotes. Besides delving into party relations, the two sides also exchange opinions on international, regional and bilateral issues of common interest and exchange management and governance experiences. By taking advantage of party exchanges, the CPC and Latin American parties have also furthered country-to-country economic and trade cooperation and facilitated practical solutions to problems in their bilateral relations. They keep each other informed of the other’s domestic situation and important domestic and foreign policies, while sharing studies on theories and strategies of national development.
Significance
Countries in Latin America make up an important part of the developing world and have great importance in China’s foreign relations. Although China’s relationships with Latin American political parties predate its diplomatic relations with their countries, for a long time party relations had little influence on the development of state relations in the region due to ideological differences. Following changes in its foreign policy since China’s reform and opening-up, the CPC has actively conducted well-oriented and diversified exchange programs with Latin American political parties to facilitate the growth of their state relations, in view of the prevalence of political parties and popularity of the multiple-party political system in Latin American countries and the fact that their party leaders play significant roles in state affairs. This new approach has enhanced China’s state relations with Latin American countries to the benefit of its reform and opening-up program and socialist modernization.
Successful party exchanges have enhanced mutual understanding and friendship and created a favorable political environment for cooperation between the countries involved. Through party exchanges, top leaders of China and Latin American countries communicate directly on international and regional issues of common concern as well as on bilateral relations from a strategic and political perspective. The result is mutually beneficial cooperation in such fields as politics, economy, culture and science.
Exchanges also act as important learning resources, as either side can draw from the other’s experience and expertise on managing state affairs. Both belonging to the developing world, China and Latin American countries value the other’s experience and lessons, as they are often faced with the same or similar problems in their shared goal of developing their economies and improving the lives of their peoples. At present, China and Latin American countries are facing opportunities and challenges arising along the course of economic globalization and the increasing multi-polarity of the world. Experience sharing and joint theoretical efforts in search of a suitable development road and mode have provided intelligent support for China’s economic and social development and party building in the present era.
Economic issues are also high on the agendas of the CPC and Latin American political parties, in the hope of promoting economic exchanges and thus contributing towards economic development and the improvement of people’s livelihood. Political and economic relations are closely intertwined, and they form a reciprocal cycle if well managed. This is a consensus among political parties throughout the world. Party exchanges provide a platform for countries to deepen their economic relations and promote mutually beneficial cooperation. China is working actively to bring economic factors into political exchanges and promote economic and trade cooperations. For example, during their visits to Latin American countries, leaders from the CPC Central Committee and local committees have initiated many economic cooperation programs while discussing problems embedded in bilateral relations and pushing the development of political ties with their host countries.
In addition, party exchanges have also promoted people-to-people exchanges. Relations between China and Latin America are entering a new era of development. To help the world better understand modern China is currently a major task for the CPC’s international activities. Political parties usually have wide connections with labor unions, youth and women’s organizations, non-governmental organizations, research institutions and media agencies. Political party exchanges can push forward communication and cooperation among the above-mentioned organizations in China and Latin America, and establish platforms for bilateral cooperation and mutual understanding. In this way a new pattern will take shape in China’s diplomacy, featuring effective combination of communication between the parties, states and peoples of China and the wider world.
