"The Communist Party of China (CPC) has established and maintained links, contacts and cooperation in diverse forms with 400-plus political parties and organizations in 147 countries and regions the world over," said Cai Wu, deputy head of International Department of the CPC Central Committee, at a press conference sponsored by the State Council Information Office Thursday morning.

 CPC has now had 66 million members, Cai said. In the past dozens of years, the CPC has conducted wide and friendly exchanges, and cooperation, with various governments and political organizations from around the world in pursuit of peace, development and progress. The various form, level and multi-channel friendly exchange has turned the CPC's external work into an important part of the diplomatic missions of the People's Republic of China.

 

According to Cai, the International Department of the CPC Central Committee is a functional department of the Party, which is responsible for Party exchanges with parties or political organizations from different countries and regions.

 

"I hope the press conference will be a start in strengthening communications between the International Department of the CPC Central Committee and foreign journalists stationed in Beijing as well as the Chinese press. Everybody here is welcome to the International Department of the CPC Central Committee at any time later on," Cai said. "Our new building will go into operation on May 1 next year. It will be situated in No.4 Fuxing Road on the Chang'an Avenue, opposite to the China Science and Technology Building."

 

Also present at the press conference was Yu Hongjun, spokesman for the International Department of CPC Central Committee. Vice minister of the State Council Information Office Wang Guoqing presided over the meeting.

 

Background: External Relations of the Communist Party of China

 

(China.org.cn September 25, 2003)