Leaders of more countries, political parties and organizations from around the world have offered congratulations to the Communist Party of China (CPC) on the convening of its 17th National Congress.

Jalal Al-Talabani, Iraqi president and general secretary of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, praised the CPC for the "outstanding and historic" role it has played in leading the Chinese people in the struggles for liberation, freedom, national integrity and progress.

The CPC has also greatly contributed to realizing world peace and peaceful coexistence and sincere cooperation of all peoples in the world, Al-Talabani said in his congratulatory message to the CPC.

He told the CPC that his party would continue to develop relations between the two parties to bring benefits to the Chinese people and the Arabian and Kurdish peoples in Iraq.

Navinchandra Ramgoolam, prime minister of Mauritius and leader of the Mauritius Labour Party, extended the CPC his "best wishes for a fruitful 17th National Congress."

"The 17th National Congress is being convened at a time when China has entered a key stage of reform and development," said the prime minister, adding: "I have no doubt that the Communist Party of China will record even greater successes and pave the way for modern social policies in building a harmonious society."

He looked forward to further strengthening "the historical ties and friendly relations" between the CPC and the Mauritius Labour Party, Ramgoolam said.

Chea Sim, chairman of the Cambodian People's Party and president of the Senate of Cambodia, said in his greetings that the CPC's 17th National Congress will approve new guidelines of great significance under which China will develop into a more prosperous and stronger nation.

He wished that the existing cooperative relations of unity and friendliness between the two parties would further be consolidated and developed.

Keo Puth Rasmey, chairman of the Funcinpec Party of Cambodia and deputy prime minister of Cambodia, sent his "warmest congratulations" to the CPC on the convening of the Congress.

He said the convention would surely make significant contributions to setting the development targets for China for the next five years, promoting the country's rapid development and safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

President of the Socialist International (SI) George Papandreou and Secretary General Luis Ayala said in their message that the SI was following "with great interest and attention" the decisions to be made at the CPC Congress, saying it was doing so not only for their importance to the Chinese people, "but also for the significance that these deliberations bring to the international community as a whole, at a time when interdependence and new realities which are shared globally confront us with enormous common challenges."

China is a nation and a people "with whom we aspire to build, all together, a future which ensures peace, democracy, sustainable development, social justice and equal opportunities," the message said.

John Bonello, international secretary of the Malta Nationalist Party, said in his telegram that the ongoing convention is an important event for China, which has entered a key stage in its continuous process of reform and development.

He said his party highly regards the good relations with the CPC.

"We acknowledge that these relations, based on the principles of political independence, autonomy and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, have developed significantly during the past years," he said.

Hedi M'henni, general secretary of the Constitutional Democratic Rally of Tunisia, extended his hearty and sincere greetings to all CPC party members and wished the CPC Congress a great success.

Glorifying the firm and friendly relations between the two parties as well as the two countries, he said his party will further strengthen the friendship and promote bilateral cooperation to achieve the shared goals of the two parties.

On behalf of the board and members of the Brotherhood and Unity in Politic party of Surinam, its Vice Chairman Dico Linus and Secretary Misiedjan Wensley presented sincere congratulations on the convening of the congress, saying they wished it to be fruitful and successful.

The Communist Party of France has also sent a congratulatory letter, expressing their hearty greetings to the Chinese communists.

The letter noted that against the backdrop of globalization which bears so many contradictions, the CPC is engaged in the great movement of economic, social and cultural construction for the country as well as its citizens.

It added that the French party looked forward to further developing its relations with the CPC.
 
In their message, Co-chairmen of the Left Party of Germany Lothar Bisky and Oskar Lafontaine said the Chinese socialist policy of seeking development and public well-being and involving everybody in social development is closely linked with the world's efforts to seek justice, peace, democracy and social progress and to protect the environment.

They said their party is closely watching the National Congress for its five year summary and the CPC's future development strategies, adding that their party is willing to further strengthen its friendship and cooperation with the CPC.

Sean Dorgan, general secretary of the Republican Party of Ireland, said he believed the Congress would be fruitful and hoped the relations between the two countries and two parties would grow stronger.

Elie Hoarau, general secretary of the Communist Party of Reunion, highly commended China as an indispensable factor in maintaining a balanced world.

Hoarau noted that the CPC has been working hard to solve problems facing one-fifth of the world's population and to preserve the development conditions for humanity, which is an unprecedented and passionate cause for the communists.

Gagic Tsarukian, chairman of the Prosperous Armenia Party, said the Armenian people are familiar with the history and traditions of China and are well informed of the remarkable achievements the Chinese people have made in the fields of economic, scientific and cultural development.

Tsarukian said his party supports the development of the beneficial relations between Armenia and China.

Marcelo Schilling, secretary-general of the Socialist Party of Chile, said he hoped the Congress would be a great success and would make guidelines for the continuous establishment of a just and united society for the benefit of all the Chinese people.

Leon Chaku Symister, chairman of the United Progressive Party of Antigua and Barbuda, said: "we are confident that your deliberations will be successful as you choose your leaders who will continue to build your great state."

Frisco F. San Juan, president of the Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC) of the Philippines, said the NPC admired the CPC for "leading the consolidation of people of various ethnic backgrounds into a vibrant society," and advancing China's economy to "unprecedented heights," and hoped the CPC Congress would yield more positive results.

In its message, the Japanese Communist Party Central Committee said that it was unprecedented in world history for a country to develop socialism by practicing market economy.

It hoped that the CPC could overcome all difficulties in the process of development, and that the further progress of the ties between the two parties would benefit the friendly relations between the Japanese and Chinese peoples, as well as peace in Asia and the world at large.

Nguyen Thi Binh, president of the Vietnam Peace and Development Foundation, wished the Congress a big success and hoped that the event could make fresh contributions to China's socialist construction and peace, friendliness and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region and in the world.

Pierre Mauroy, former French prime minister and the Jean-Jaures Foundation president, praised the decisive role played by the CPC National Congress in defining policies and principles guiding China's future national and social development and China's important role in the international community.

He expressed his confidence that China would further consolidate its great achievements and make bigger contributions to safeguarding peace and reinforcing efforts in environmental protection.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2007)