Leaders of many foreign political parties and organizations from around the world have sent congratulatory messages to the Communist Party of China (CPC ) on the convening of its 17th National Congress.

In his message, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, president of the Maldives and Leader of the Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP), congratulated the CPC on the convening of its 17th National Congress, and extended greetings to the leadership and members of the CPC .

"The recent exchange of visits by senior delegations of the DRP and the CPC symbolize the growing ties of friendship and understanding between our two parties, and indeed our two countries," Gayoom said, adding:"These ties are flourishing on a strong foundation of mutual understanding and goodwill."

The social and economic development of China over the past decades had been phenomenal, he noted. Gayoom wished continued peace, progress and prosperity to the Chinese people, and further success and achievement for the CPC .

In his message, Nikola Gruevski, prime minister of Macedonia and president of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity, said the 17th CPC National Congress is of great significance to China's future and the Chinese people.

The resolutions from the Congress will further push forward China's reforms, and strengthen the CPC 's ability to cope with challenges in the process of leading the country on the path of rapid development and on the march to prosperity, he said.

Gruevski also expressed thanks for the great contributions China, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has made to the maintenance of peace and stability in Southeast Europe.

Bulgarian Prime Minister and Bulgarian Socialist Party President Sergei Stanisev said the CPC will continue its efforts to change the economy's growth mode, increase input in the rural areas, improve energy efficiency and better protect the environment. The CPC will also make further progress in the areas of education, employment, social security, health and housing, Stanisev said.

The CPC National Congress would give fresh impetus to efforts to promote China's economic strength and its competitiveness, Stanisev said.

Prime Minister of Vanuatu and National United Party President Ham Lini Vanuaroroa said his party "recognizes the important role played by the CPC through its national congresses in taking important decisions that have shaped China's socio and economic development processes as well as shaping the global economic and geo-political environment."

The National United Party appreciates the good working relationship with the CPC , and has benefited from fruitful exchanges in the past, the party leader said. The National United Party is committed to promote a long-term relationship with the CPC and looks forward to further dialogue and cooperation with it in the future, Lini said.

Samoan Prime Minister and Leader of the Human Rights Protection Party Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi said in his greetings that the convening of the CPC National Congress is timely as China enters a key stage of reform and development, and the Congress will serve as the forum to review the Party's work during the past five years.

Acting Prime Minister of Dominica and Deputy Leader of the Dominica Labour Party Ambrose George said the Congress will be a historic one, and China and the Chinese people would move forward under a new leadership to be elected by the Congress.

President of the United Russia Party Boris Gryzlov believed the 17th CPC National Congress will become a significant event in China's political life, and will exert a positive influence on China's sustainable development.

China is Russia's most important political and economic partner, Gryzlov said. Russia is committed to developing an all-round mutually beneficial relationship with China, which conforms to the fundamental interests of both peoples, and also serves as an important factor in strengthening peace, security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region as well as the whole world, Gryzlov said.

The United Russia Party values the sincere relationship of mutual trust between it and the CPC , and hoped the cooperation between the two parties would continue to grow.

The chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Tajikistan, Chodi Chabdolov, said the achievements China has made in recent years show that the CPC can apply Marxism-Leninism in a creative way and build socialism in light of China's specific historic and cultural conditions.

South Korea's Grand National Party offered congratulations on the CPC 's success in achieving fast economic growth and political stability through reform and opening-up. It expressed the hope that the two parties would further strengthen their ties and strive to achieve peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia at an early date.

President of the Malaysian Chinese Association and Minister of Housing and Local Government Dato' Seri Ong Ka Ting said the 17th CPC National Congress will not only bring far-reaching influences to China's future development, but will also have a positive effect on sustainable development in the ASEAN region, as well as on prosperity and stability in the whole Asia and the rest of the world.

Megawati Soekarnoputri, chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, and Pramono Anung, secretary-general of the party, said in their message that they hope the good relationship between the two parties will last and that they will work together for prosperity and progress of the two nations.

In a message, Sujata Koirala, head of the Department of International Relations of the Nepali Congress, said China's unprecedented economic growth has attracted worldwide attention.

"In recent years, along with the augmentations of China's economic strength, the expansion of political influence and the rise in the level of opening to the outside world," China's economic ties and interaction with the rest of the world including Nepal have been significantly boosted while China's ties with other developing countries have entered into a new stage, he said.

"We are confident that the warm and cordial relations would be further reinforced between government to government and people to people level under the able leadership of the two countries in the days and years to come," said Koirala.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist), in its message, extended its "warm fraternal communist greetings" to the ongoing CPC Congress.

The CPC 's "firm adherence to the socialist path remains a source of inspiration for the people struggling worldwide for an exploitation-free society," it said.

The CPI (Marxist) has been keenly following the developments taking place in China, its said, noting the "impressive economic advances made by China" since 1978 are "receiving worldwide attention."

The message said the party is confident the bilateral ties will continue to improve and "this, in turn, will contribute to bringing peace and stability in the region."

Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, chairperson of the Pakistan Peoples Party, praised China's "remarkable" progress and success in its modernization drive, reform and opening-up.

Pakistan and China have a "special relationship" and their friendship has "withstood the test of time," said Bhutto, adding that the bilateral ties are "a model of cooperation which has contributed to safeguarding peace and the common development of our region."

Andreas Schieder, the international secretary of the Social Democratic Party of Austria, offered greetings to the opening of the CPC congress and said his party is following with great interest China's efforts to build a harmonious society, the political developments in the country and its reform and opening up.

He said his party is ready to carry out regular exchanges with the CPC on the basis of mutual respect and understanding, goodwill and sincerity.

Francois Hollande, first secretary of the French Socialist Party, extended his "sincerest" congratulations on the CPC congress and wished full success for the event.

Chris McDiven, chairperson of the Liberal Party of Australia, and its secretary general Brian Loughnane said they recognized the significance of the 17th National Congress for the CPC and China and wished all participants in the Congress a "fruitful time of deliberation and decision-making."

Mike Smith, general secretary of the New Zealand Labour Party, said in his message that his party has always maintained "very warm fraternal relations" with the CPC .

"It is our sincere hope that these relationships can be further developed and strengthened in the future to our mutual benefit," Smith said.

Ahmed Ouyahia, general secretary of Algeria's National Rally for Democracy, said in a message that China has made admirable achievements under the CPC 's leadership and his Rally appreciates the great importance the CPC attaches to promoting peace and development and strengthening international solidarity and cooperation.

Mpho Malie, secretary general of the Lesotho Congress for Democracy (LCD), said the LCD is convinced that a new leadership that will be emerging from this Congress will be carrying China "even to much more greater heights."

"We are hopeful that the leadership role that you have played throughout the world will be strengthened by outcome of this Congress, and the Sino-Africa programs currently in place more vigorously pursued," Malie said.

Ricardo Berzoini, chairman of the Brazilian Workers' Party, and Walter Pomar, secretary of the International Relations of the Workers' Party, said in their message that China and the CPC have played a very important role in the establishment of a new international order and that their party hopes to further promote the friendly ties with the CPC .

Gerardo Mendoza, vice-chairman of the Bolivian Movement to Socialism, said his Movement wishes the CPC still greater achievements to the benefit of China and the wider world and hopes the political relations between the two parties will be strengthened.

Rene Castro Salazar, secretary general of the Costa Rican National Liberation Party, said the CPC Congress will consolidate the social foundation and unify ideas for building socialism with Chinese characteristics, create more and better development opportunities for all the Chinese people and provide them with better education and social welfare.

Jose de Venecia, Jr., founder and chairman of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties and speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives, said in his message that these Congresses "are landmarks in China's restoration to great-power status."

"Meanwhile, the CPC has also become a key participant in our collective effort to create an Asia without dividing lines," he said.

From this Congress, "we expect both a renewed impetus of reform and development for the Chinese people, and new initiatives for stability and harmony for the whole of Asia," he said.

Francis Wurtz, president of the GUE-NGL Group in the European Parliament, said in a message that many progressive people in Europe will follow with great interest the discussion at the Congress and the major guidelines and policies to be adopted regarding social progress and sustainable development.

They also hope China will give full play to its role and influence in international relations, Wurtz said.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2007)