The third International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) will demonstrate peaceful, open, enlightened and progressive image of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to the world, said a CPC official in Beijing Friday evening.

Cai Wu, deputy head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the remark at a press conference. The CPC has changed views of some foreign parties that resulted from biased reports of Western media through its efforts to implement its foreign policy of independence and sustained economic growth, Cai said.

The CPC held the ICAPP in response to the request of some Asian parties, he said.

"The first-day meeting is very successful," he said. Delegates from different parties exchanged their valuable viewpoints and experience in the meeting, he said.

The meeting is conducive to strengthening the CPC's strategic thinking and administrative capability, he said.

The Third International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) opened here Friday morning. It was the first of its kind hosted by the Communist Party of China (CPC).

The conference's main topics, with the theme of Exchanges, Cooperation and Development, included "regional security and multilateral cooperation", "economic growth and social progress" and "political party building and national development".

Delegates from more than 80 political parties or organizations of 34 Asian countries attended the conference.

Initiated in 2000, the first two ICAPP conferences were held in the Philippines and Thailand in September 2000 and November 2002 respectively. The CPC sent delegates to participate in the previous two meetings.
 
(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2004)