The Information Office of the State Council held a press conference at 10 a.m. on September 25, 2007. Vice Minister Zhang Zhijun briefed reporters on the international exchanges of the Communist Party of China and answered their questions. Guo Yezhou, press spokesman of the International Department and Director of its Research Office, attended the press conference, which was presided over by Chen Wenjun, Deputy Director of the Information Office.

China-DPRK party exchanges help settle Korean Peninsula nuclear issue

 Exchanges between the ruling parties of China (CPC) and that of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) had facilitated the proper settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, said a senior CPC official here Tuesday.

Zhang Zhijun, vice minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said the CPC and the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) had witnessed sound momentum of bilateral relations in recent years.

Leaders of the two ruling parties kept frequent exchanges and contacts, giving important guidance to the development of bilateral ties, Zhang told a press briefing.

Meanwhile, the two ruling parties had regular exchanges in various areas and through diversified channels, and held in-depth discussion on international and regional issues, which has helped maintain peace and stability in northeast Asia and properly settle the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, he said.

The CPC is ready to further strengthen dialogues and exchanges with the WPK on the basis of four principles regarding inter-party exchanges, to push forward the overall development of China-DPRK relations, Zhang said.

Zhang Zhijun hails exchanges with Communist Party of Vietnam  

Zhang Zhijun said Tuesday the CPC has had more frequent, diversified, extensive and abundant exchanges with the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) in recent years.

The relationship between the CPC and the CPV is an important component of the political foundation of overall ties of the two countries, Zhang said.

The CPC is happy to see that the China-Vietnam relations have kept deepening under the principles of long-term stability, facing the future, good-neighborliness and all-round cooperation and under the guidance of striving for good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners, Zhang said.

He noted that three theoretical seminars between the CPC and the CPV have been organized since 2003, during which the two parties conducted in-depth discussions on how to realize economic development and social progress, how to strengthen self-construction and how to enhance the leadership competence of the parties.

Zhang said such seminars have born fruits, adding that it is of great importance for the CPC and the CPV to learn from each other and to do research on dealing with theoretical and practical issues emerging from the two countries' process of reform and opening-up.

Indian ruling party head to visit China  

Sonia Gandhi, head of India's ruling Congress party, would pay a visit to China soon,  Zhang Zhijun said Tuesday.

Zhang Zhijun told a press conference that he was recently informed that Sonia Gandhi had been scheduled to visit China.

"Chinese President Hu Jintao invited Sonia Gandhi to visit China when he visited India last year," Zhang told reporters, saying that the CPC attaches great importance to Sonia Gandhi's visit.

"We believe that Sonia Gandhi's China visit would boost the mutual understanding and friendship between the leaders of two parties and we highly appreciate the positive role played by the Indian Congress party to promote the friendship and cooperative relations between the two countries," Zhang said.

The official noted that the CPC maintains good relations with leading Indian political parties and hopes to foster the relations with them in an effort to step up China-India strategic partnership and to promote regional peace and prosperity.

Zhang also conveyed his congratulations to Rahul Gandhi, who was on Monday appointed general secretary of the Congress party.

CPC voices hope to foster ties with west European political parties

Zhang Zhijun voiced hope here on Tuesday to foster the party relations with various types of west European political parties despite ideological differences.

Zhang Zhijun said that the CPC maintains exchanges in various forms with left-wing, neutral, and right-wing west European political parties and regards such party-to-party exchange an important component of China-EU strategic partnership.

"We hope to establish mutual understanding and cooperation with west European political parties through bilateral dialogue and exchanges", Zhang said.

According to Zhang, the CPC would promote the party relations through efforts in four aspects including exchange of views on how to boost party-to-party and country-to-country relations and on regional and international issues with common concern.

CPC not to be blamed for failing to develop ties with major U.S. political parties

Zhang Zhijun said the CPC should not be blamed for failing to develop ties with the two major U.S. political parties.

"The CPC bears no responsibility for failing to develop direct relations with two major U.S. political parties", Zhang Zhijun said.

He noted that the CPC always handle the relations with American political parties with an open mind and is willing to establish exchanges and promote ties with the U.S. political parties, including the Democratic Party and the Republican Party based on CPC's four basic principles for the party relations.

The CPC now maintains regular party exchange and cooperation with the Communist Party of the United States, Zhang added.

Party exchanges contribute to improvement of China-Japan relations

The exchanges of political parties between China and Japan had contributed to the improvement of bilateral relations when the two countries experience a political stalemate, said Zhang Zhijun.

Zhang said the two countries' ruling parties had set up the exchange mechanism and held two meetings.

The exchange between the political parties and statesmen of China and Japan is an important component of bilateral relations, he added.

"Various forms of exchanges between the two countries' political parties had helped to overcome political obstacles in bilateral ties, strengthen mutual trust, and promote further development of China-Japan relations," Zhang said.

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