Academicians peppered a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) with questions during a panel meeting between scholars on China and CPC officials in the Great Hall of the People on Tuesday.

"The CPC is willing to maintain exchanges with foreign specialists in all sectors in an open manner," said Liu Yunshan, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, while meeting with six foreign scholars.

During the one-hour meeting, Liu touched on almost all the questions raised, covering topics such as China's external publicity and how to cope with overseas misunderstanding of China.

The panel of scholars, who were here to attend a workshop on the building of the CPC, included David Shambaugh, director of the China Policy Program at George Washington University and freelancer Zheng Yongnian, who is director of the East Asian Institute of National University of Singapore.

Liu, who is also head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, noted he likes to listen to the scholars' views and questions concerning the CPC and China.

He also said he appreciates the efforts the China experts have made in helping the world to gain a more objective and comprehensive understanding of China and the CPC, saying their views have influence on the CPC's decision-making.

The CPC has never stopped accumulating experiences during its building and governing process, and also has never stopped learning from the experiences of ruling parties in other countries, Liu said.

David Shambaugh, who has a good command of Chinese, said the workshop displays the openness of the CPC and provides a platform for the world to deepen its understanding of China.

During the workshop, which ran from June 6 to 7, Shambaugh told reporters that China's development posed no threat to the world, but rather opportunities.

The CPC enjoys advantages in its cadre selection, cultivation and training, Shambaugh said.

He mentioned concern about the problems emerging during the development of Chinese society such as corruption, but noted he is "cautiously optimistic" about the CPC's future.

Kerry Brown, head of the Asia Programme at Chatham House, spoke highly of China's economic growth, saying that China's development is beneficial to other developing countries.

The two-day workshop was hosted by the International Department of the CPC Central Committee and George Washington University.

The CPC has existed for 90 years, during which it set up the socialist theoretical system with Chinese characteristics, and opened up the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics, said head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee Wang Jiarui while addressing the opening ceremony of the workshop on Monday.

Wang also told the scholars the CPC was ready to carry out more dialogue and cooperation with foreign countries to enhance understanding and consensus.

The CPC has been committed to becoming an incorruptible political party that is good at learning, reforming and innovating, while maintaining democracy, unity and a close connection with its citizens, Wang said.

Several departments of the CPC Central Committee, including the Party History Research Center, the Organization Department, and the International Department, sent officials to attend the workshop.

Attendees discussed the theory and practice of the CPC, and the party's organizational and thought construction.

As this year marks the 90th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, it has held a series of events to help it be better understood around the world.