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Read in Chinese

Speakers:

Ms. Shen Beili, vice minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC)

Mr. Ma Zhaoxu, member of the CPC Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and vice minister of foreign affairs

Chairperson:

Mr. Chen Wenjun, head of the International Press Bureau of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee

Date:

Oct. 20, 2022

Chen Wenjun:

Ladies and gentlemen, friends from the media, good morning. Welcome to the fourth press conference held by the Press Center for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Today, we have invited two delegates to brief you on following the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy to break new ground for and forge ahead major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. They will also take your questions. The two delegates are Ms. Shen Beili, vice minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee; and Mr. Ma Zhaoxu, member of the CPC Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and vice minister of foreign affairs.

Now, let's give the floor to Ms. Shen Beili for an introduction.

Shen Beili:

Friends from the media, good morning. It is a great pleasure to brief you on the Party's external work in the new era under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Xi Jinping has put forward a series of important expositions regarding the Party's external work, which constitute an important part of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy. The expositions give definitive answers to a series of major questions of orientational, fundamental and strategic significance in the Party's external work in the new era, thus enabling our Party to open a brand-new horizon in its understanding of the laws that underlie the Party's external work and pointing out a clear direction for and injecting strong impetus into the Party's external work in the new era.

Based on his assessment of the global situation, General Secretary Xi Jinping clarified the historical background for the Party's external work in the new era. As General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out, at present, momentous changes of a like not seen in a century are accelerating across the world. Changes of the world, of our times and of history are unfolding like never before. Meanwhile, socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is now on an irreversible course and China is moving ever closer to the center of the world stage. These major conclusions provide a solid basis for understanding the new historical context of China's development, the historical changes in the relationship between China and the world and between the CPC and the world as well as the scientific planning and in-depth promotion of the Party's external work. In recent years, we have upheld fundamental principles while trying to break new ground in the Party's external work. We played host to the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting and the CPC and World Political Parties Summit. In his addresses, General Secretary Xi Jinping gave a systematic elaboration on the outlook of contemporary Chinese Communists on the world, on values and on responsibilities, and called on political parties around the world to jointly handle the once-in-a-century changes. In response to the high attention paid to our Party by the world's political parties and the wider international community, we have hosted briefings on the outcomes of the Party's important meetings upon their immediate conclusions. Many foreign political party leaders have said that the CPC's important meetings are "major events that have important bearing on the world and ourselves."

Thinking in big-picture terms, General Secretary Xi Jinping defined the basic identity of the Party's external work in the new era. As General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out, the external work of the Party constitutes an important front of our Party, an important component of our country's overall diplomacy and an important manifestation of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. We have worked all-out to provide services for General Secretary Xi Jinping's state visits and support China's hosting of major diplomatic events attended by General Secretary Xi Jinping. We have intensified our efforts to communicate Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. We have taken solid measures to safeguard the CPC's position as the governing party and its institutional security. In response to issues involving China's core interests and major concerns, we have kept the Party's external work in alignment with our country's overall diplomacy, leveraged our unique advantages, carried out active countermoves, and joined with political parties, think tanks, and social organizations of other countries to express the voice of justice. Staying true to our political character, we have held events such as the CPC and World Marxist Political Parties Forum, adapted Marxism to the local context and the needs of the times with Marxist parties and progressive forces around the world, and contributed to the global development of socialism. We have developed comprehensive ties with different kinds of political parties and organizations and promoted coordination and cooperation among countries via inter-party consultation and cooperation.

General Secretary Xi Jinping has presented the noble cause for the Party's external work in the new era with a global vision. As General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out, the CPC strives for both the well-being of the Chinese people and human progress. The CPC, together with political parties and organizations around the world, needs to shoulder the responsibility to steer the course, build consensus, promote development, enhance cooperation, improve governance and continuously strengthen the capability to seek happiness for the people. Over the years, we have established joint consultation mechanisms among political parties in countries along the route of the Belt and Road Initiative, so as to draw on the complementarity among BRI partners and achieve common prosperity. We have provided COVID-19 prevention and control plans as well as diagnosis and treatment protocols to nearly 400 political parties overseas. We have also offered medical supplies and technical assistance to political parties overseas in need to the full extent of our ability. These political parties all noted that the CPC met their most urgent needs, and that the CPC "is their true friend." We have also held the commemorative event for the International Day of Peace, called for joint efforts to carry out the Global Security Initiative (GSI), and safeguarded world peace and stability.

General Secretary Xi Jinping has shown great foresight and clarified the direction of the Party's external work in the new era. As General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out, political parties in various countries should strengthen mutual trust, dialogue and coordination. On the basis of the new type of international relations, political parties must explore the building of a new type of party-to-party relations that seeks to expand common ground while reserving differences and enhances mutual respect and mutual learning. We have been promoting and deepening ties with governing parties of other socialist countries and political parties in neighboring countries, as well as developing and developed countries. We have also established various regional and global platforms to facilitate inter-party dialogues, continuously consolidated and improved the global partnership network of political parties, and contributed to deepening and expanding a global partnership network featuring equality, openness and cooperation. Currently, the CPC maintains various forms of contact with more than 600 political parties and organizations. We have carried out in-depth communication with political parties around the world, shared experience in the governance of the Party and the nation, and jointly improved governance capacity. Many political parties overseas have repeatedly expressed their wish to strengthen communication with the CPC, noting that the practice of the CPC has provided them with valuable experience to learn from.

General Secretary Xi Jinping has made well-conceived efforts and specified the ways and means for the Party's external work in the new era. As General Secretary Xi Jinping has pointed out, we must set well-conceived goals, make macro layout and take a holistic approach with a capacity for thinking strategically, innovatively and dialectically, so as to improve the coordination, scientific nature and effectiveness of the Party's external work. He also noted that the success of the Party's external work relies on efforts made by all Party members, localities, departments and sectors. Therefore, we must strive for an architecture of great coordination with the Party providing overall leadership and coordinating the efforts of all sides. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Forum on the Party's External Work has been held on a regular basis. By visiting foreign countries and receiving foreign delegations, hosting important international conferences, participating in various bilateral and multilateral exchange events, and promoting inter-party communication and practical cooperation among various levels and sectors, Party organizations in various regions and of various departments have jointly achieved well-coordinated and well-developed progress of the Party's external work.

On the new journey ahead, the Party's external work will continue following the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, pressing ahead in the new era and charting new courses in the field. That concludes my introduction. Thank you.