A gathering was held Friday to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the China Association for Promoting Democracy (CAPD), one of the eight non-Communist parties in the country.

Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, attended the meeting and made congratulatory remarks on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.

In his speech, Li pledged that the CPC will continue its policies of long-term co-existence, mutual supervision, being open to each others, and share glories and miseries with non-Communist parties, as well as the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation led by the CPC.

Xu Jialu, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and chairman of the CAPD Central Committee, said at the gathering that CAPD members should unite around the CPC Central Committee with Hu Jintao as the general secretary.

Jiang Zhenghua, vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee and chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party (CPWDP), said at the meeting on behalf of seven other non-Communist parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce.

The gathering was presided over by Zhang Huaixi, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and vice-chairman of the CAPD Central Committee.

Liu Yandong, vice-chairwoman of the CPPCC National Committee and director of the United Front Department of the CPC Central Committee, also attended the gathering.

(Xinhua News Agency December 10, 2005)