Political party and political leaders worldwide have congratulated China on the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which opened Thursday in Beijing.

Co-Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari said in a congratulatory message the congress was a momentous occasion for the CPC as it undertook to review the progress made during the past five years and laid down policy guidelines for the future.

The congress was taking place at a time of worldwide economic slowdown while China continued its steady forward march, the message said, noting China faced various challenges in pushing forward the cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, but, the Pakistani leader was confident "the Chinese leadership is endowed with the wisdom and sagacity to face these challenges and chart out a course that will take the Chinese people to even greater heights."

The message said the Pakistan-China friendship based upon mutual trust and respect was all-weather and time tested.

Leader of the Gaumee Itthihaad Party (GIP), or National Unity Party, and President of Maldives Mohamed Waheed in his congratulatory message conveyed best wishes for very constructive and fruitful deliberations at the congress.

The message said the Maldives and China observed the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic relations on Oct. 14, 2012, and the GIP had enjoyed close ties of friendship and cooperation with the CPC.

The message reiterated appreciation to the Chinese government and its people for their assistance and cooperation in the development of the Maldives over the years.

President of the Liberation Front of Mozambique (FRELIMO) and President of Mozambique Armando Guebuza, in a congratulatory message, iterated support for the cause of the CPC and the Chinese people, and willingness to deepen ties between the two countries' parties, governments and peoples.

Wishing the CPC congress a complete success, the message said FRELIMO was looking forward to deeper friendly cooperation with the CPC on their common ideals of creating peace, justice and boosting social progress.

Secretary General of the Rally of the Togolese People and Togo President Faure Gnassingbe said in a congratulatory message the CPC congress was convened at at time when China was in need of new policies and strategies in the face of changes taking place in its economic and social development.

The Togolese party believed the upcoming leadership of China would continue to deepen reform, improve people's livelihood and consolidate China's status as a world power.

Francois Bozize, founding president of the KWA NA KWA party of the Central African Republic, said, in recent years, the two countries had cooperated fruitfully in the political, economic and trade fields.

The Central African Republic was willing to continue to cooperate with China to jointly create a better future, said Bozize, who is also president of the African nation.

Najib Tun Razak, president of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), said in his message, under the leadership of Hu Jintao and the CPC, China had achieved unprecedented economic and social progress in the past decade, with a great improvement in the people's living standards.

Malaysia was looking forward to strengthening reciprocal cooperation with China to benefit the two peoples, said Najib, who is also prime minister of the country.

Xanana Gusmao, leader of the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (CNRT) of East Timor, said the CPC congress would make great contributions to China's prosperity and progress.

The CNRT was looking forward to further enhancing exchanges and cooperation between the two parties and advancing the friendly relations between the two governments and peoples, said Gusmao, who is also prime minister of the country.

Chair of the Board of the Unity Party and Parliament Speaker of Latvia Solvita Aboltina, and Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis in their congratulatory message wished China further economic development and expressed willingness to push forward friendly relations between the two peoples.

"Our common and joint efforts will turn into meaningful and useful benefits and will foster the wealth and fortune of both countries," the message said.

Crin Antonescu, president of the National Liberal Party (NLP) of Romania, said the NLP fully understood the CPC congress's significance to China and the world at large, adding it would bring China's social development into a historic new period.

The NLP was ready to deepen the long-lasting, mutually beneficial and win-win partnership between Romania and China, so as to promote the two countries' development and progress, said Antonescu, who is also president of the Senate.

Bourhane Hamidou, president of the National Assembly of the Comoros, said the CPC congress was of great significance in Chinese politics and had a wide influence on the world.

He hoped the congress would inject fresh vitality into China and that China would continuously score new achievements in various fields.

Party Leader of the Wiper Democratic Movement and Vice President of Kenya Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka said in a congratulatory message the CPC congress would deliberate on the economic development, social progress, improvement of living standards and raising the country's international status and influence that China had realized since the last congress.

The meeting would also make further strategic plans in China's cause of reform and opening up for the next phase of the national modernization drive, as well as for the overall advancement of the party.

Beatriz Rojkes de Alperovich, vice president of the Justicialist Party of Argentina, said the new CPC leadership would shoulder a responsibility to lead China into a bright future.

Policies from the congress would have an influence not only on China, but also on the the sound relationship between the two countries, said Rojkes, who is also the provisional president of the Senate

Aleksandar Vucic, president of the Serbian Progressive Party, said the CPC had drawn up a development strategy that was in the interests of the people and established a development path for China.

The Serbian Progressive Party attached great importance to the friendly cooperative relations between the two parties and was willing to continue to make contributions to deepening the traditional friendship between the two countries and peoples and cooperation in various fields, said Vucic, who is the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense of Serbia.

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki said the CPC congress would make important decisions and push for the realization of important goals for a better life for the Chinese people.

Alan Garcia, president of the Peruvian Aprista Party, said the congress would continue to stick to and strengthen the CPC's policy in transforming China's economic development mode.

The congress would make a nessasary analysis on the situation of China and the world at large, said Garcia, a former president of Peru.

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in his congratulatory message referred to the CPC congress as a gathering that could reflect on the remarkable progress China had made in the past five years.

There were numerous challenges and opportunities that all countries faced, many of which could only be tackled through partnership and cooperation, the message said, stressing "on all the big issues, we need China to be a partner for progress."

"So whether the issue is global economics, climate change, Africa world trade or securities questions, countries around the world, together with China should create the circumstances for strong partnerships," the former PM said.

Mari Bin Amude Alkatiri, general secretary of the Revolutionary Front of Independent East Timor and former prime minister of the country, said the congress was of great historic significance for the CPC, China and the world.

Nikolai Levichev, leader of the Russian Justice Party, said the congress, a historic event for the CPC and the Chiese people, would score fruitful achievements and help China achieve more success in internal and international affairs.

The Liberal Democratic Party of Russia said China, as the most populous country in the world, had maintained rapid development in various fields and realized stability and prodsperity.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) said in a message it had been keenly following the developments taking place in China and noted the impressive economic advances made by the country.

It was confident the relations between the peoples of China and India would continue to improve and contribute to bringing peace and stability in the region, the message said.

S. Suoakar Reddy, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), said his party noted the Chinese people in the past five years had already registered tremendous progress in all areas through implementing a scientific outlook on development aimed at achieving social harmony and balanced growth.

"We have much expectation and hopes about the outcome of the 18th Congress of the CPC, which we are sure will further strengthen the resolve of the Chinese people to build socialism with Chinese characteristics," he said.

The Director of the Presidential Office of Belarus said, under the leadership of the CPC, China had scored remarkable achievements in all fields and was playing an important role in international politics and the economy.