It proved an open, friendly, cooperative and constructive meeting, a Chinese senior official said of the Third International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) which concluded in Beijing Sunday.

After the closing ceremony of the three-day conference, Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, told the press that despite a lot of differences in point of view, value and policies among the Asian political parties, the ICAPP proved to be a great success due to three reasons.

First, the success of the first two ICAPP held respectively in the Philippines and Thailand has set a good example. This one is in line with the previous two conferences. Therefore, it is well received by all the parties, Wang said.

Second, the success of the conference should be also owed to the active participation of all the leaders and delegates of the Asian political parties, including some heads of state, parliament leaders and heads of government, he said.

Third, the CPC has attached great importance to the conference and made industrious efforts to achieve the success though it is the first time for the CPC to host a conference like this, Wang added.

In order to achieve the success, the CPC established an organizing committee with Zeng Qinghong, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, as the honorary director, Liu Yunshan, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, as the director.

As Asian countries have differences in political system, economic development level and point of view on some issues, they need to enhance exchanges and cooperation for a common development, Wang said.

During the conference, the delegates enhanced mutual understanding and achieved consensus through exchanges, which made a sound foundation for further exchanges, Wang said.

So far many parties have applied to the ICAPP Standing Committee for hosting its fourth conference scheduled in 2006, he said.

"I believe that the ICAPP will be an important platform for pushing regional exchanges and cooperation, maintaining regional peace and stability and enhancing regional prosperity and development," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2004)