BEIJING, July 19 – Despite differences in political system and ideology, the Communist Party of China and political parties of Africa are not kept apart from each other, said Mr. Zhong Weiyun, deputy director-general of the Bureau of African Affairs of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

He made the remarks at the press briefing of the Fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

The CPC adjusts its policies according to the changing international situation and handles its relations with foreign political parties on the basis of the principle of independence, equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each other’s internal affairs and transcends ideological divergences, Zhong stated.

He commended the relationships between the CPC and African political parties for having played a big part in the traditional friendship and the new type of strategic partnership of China and Africa, saying such relationships constitute an essential part of the CPC’s external relations and China-Africa political ties.

Zhong said that the CPC has been invited to send representatives to congresses or other important events of many African parties and that the CPC always receives a lot of messages of congratulation from African parties on its national congresses and other major occasions though it does not invite foreign representatives.

As an inseparable part of China's diplomatic agenda based on the independent foreign policy of peace, party-to-party ties between China and Africa constitute a distinct landscape in modern international relations. Such a bond will grow stronger and play a more important role in the new type of strategic partnership between China and Africa, said Zhong.