Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Song Tao pointed out, we are at the historic moment of celebrating our Party's centenary and the key moment when the Two Centenary Goals converge. Reviewing the brilliant achievements of the Party's external work made in the past 100 years is of great significance to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core and keep in alignment; develop greater confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics; and firmly uphold General Secretary Xi Jinping’s core position in both the Party Central Committee and the Party as a whole, and firmly uphold the Party Central Committee’s authority and its centralized, unified leadership. It also carries great significance to promote the innovative development of the Party's external work, and serves the great rejuvenation of the Chinese Nation.

Song Tao stressed, to ensure the success of the study of the Party’s external work in the new era under the guidance of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important exposition on the Party's external work, we need to: first, have a deep understanding of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important statement of the Party's external work, accurately grasp its background, historical status, rich connotations and practical requirements, and earnestly translate the grand blueprint of the Party's external work drawn up by General Secretary Xi Jinping into practice. Second, grasp the profound changes in the relationship between the CPC and the world, and accurately understand General Secretary Xi Jinping's judgment that "time and momentum are on China's side ". We must grasp the rules and general trends of history, have a clear understanding of the historical position, the external environment, and our missions and tasks. We must seize the momentum, strive to build a new type of relationship between the CPC and the world, and make greater contributions to solving the common problems facing mankind. Third, have an in-depth understanding of the duties and missions of the Party's external work in the new era. We should keep in mind both the domestic and international situations, and focus on the country's top priorities. We must find the best ways to serve the core tasks of the Party and China’s diplomacy, and write a new chapter in the great journey of the national rejuvenation. Fourth, deeply promote the innovation in the theory and practice of the Party's external work in the new era. We must make our work more systematic, predictable and creative, constantly improve the overall effectiveness of the Party's external work, and strive to maintain an important period of strategic opportunities for China's development.

Guo Yezhou, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the opening ceremony. Fang Jiangshan, deputy editor-in-chief of People's Daily, Qiu Shuiping, Secretary of the Party Committee of Peking University, and Hao Ping, President of Peking University attended and addressed the opening ceremony. Cheng Xueyuan, member of Leading Party Members’ Group and vice chairman of the Party group of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, Wang Linggui, vice president of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Zhang Baijia, former deputy director of Party History Research Center of the CPC Central Committee, as well as more than 100 representatives from central departments, local-level foreign affairs offices, key universities and research institutions attended the conference and delivered speeches.

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