1st Ld-Writethru: China Focus: China-CELAC Political Parties' Forum to boost cooperation

Political parties of China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) opened talks on Tuesday in Beijing to promote multilateral relations and cooperation.

The two-day China-CELAC Political Parties' Forum was held for the first time between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and 27 parties from 26 Latin American and Caribbean countries under the theme "Innovation, Development, Cooperation and Future."

About 60 representatives from Brazil's Workers' Party, Chile's Christian Democratic Party, Costa Rica's Citizens' Action Party, the Peruvian Nationalist Party and others attended the event.

Participants are scheduled to share their views on development, economic growth, poverty alleviation, political parties in the 21st century, and cooperation between China, Latin American and Caribbean countries.

The CPC attaches great importance to friendly relations with political parties of CELAC, and the dialogue mechanism will serve as a new platform to expand exchanges and cooperation between China and CELAC, said Song Tao, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

Song called on the political parties to share their experience in national governance, strengthen political mutual trust, cooperate in innovative ways and promote common development of China and CELAC.

The forum has received praise from political party leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Vice President of Ecuador Jorge Glas, also vice chairman of the left-wing ruling Movement PAIS Alliance, hailed the forum as a "new chapter in history" for party-to-party cooperation between China and CELAC.

Communication between parties will play a vital role in helping people from the Caribbean, Latin America and China understand each other better and improve cooperation, he said.

Glas was echoed by Senator Harcourt Husbands of Barbados, who said close relations with China both at the government and party levels has paved the road for his country's development.

"The Chinese government has been working on specific projects along with the government of Barbados in promoting tourism, agriculture, and education, so we've benefited tremendously from that cooperation," Husbands said.

The forum aims to establish a high-level, multilateral platform to transcend ideological differences among political parties, allowing China and CELAC to discuss strategic issues, said Wei Qiang with the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

Communication between political parties can not only encourage sharing experience in state governance, party building and anti-corruption, but also boost cooperation between countries, Wei said.

According to a joint statement released at the close of the forum, China and the CELAC will give priority to strengthening cooperation in innovation, science and technology, education, energy and environmental protection.

Such a forum will be held aperiodically between the CPC and political parties of the CELAC under the principle of respect, equality, diversity, inclusiveness, and seeking common ground while reserving differences, it said.

A total of 1,200 political party officials from CELAC will be invited to visit China in the next five years as part of the country's efforts to boost party-to-party exchanges, said the statement.

China is the second largest trade partner of CELAC, with bilateral trade volume worth 263.64 billion U.S. dollars in 2014. China is also a major investor in the region, with total investment reaching 106 billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2014, or 12 percent of its global investment. Endi