Leaders of many more foreign countries, political parties and organizations from around the world have sent congratulatory messages to the Communist Party of China (CPC) on the convening of its 17th National Congress.

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, in his congratulatory message, expressed his warm greetings and sincere wishes on the convening of the congress.

"The 17th party congress will prove to be another landmark in the glorious history of the Chinese people in realizing their noble aspirations for comprehensive development, peace, progress and prosperity," Musharraf said.

Describing the two countries as "all weather and time-tested" friends, Musharraf said he is happy that the traditional friendship between China and Pakistan continues to be fortified each passing year by a robust, mutually beneficial partnership for peace and development.

Mozambican President Armando Emilio Guebuza, also chairman of the Frelimo Party, in his message expressed his support for all the CPC members as well as the Chinese people and wished a grand success for the CPC's 17th National Congress.

China has achieved phenomenal social and economic development under the leadership of the CPC, he said, adding that he would like to further strengthen the relations between the two governments and the two peoples.

Girija Prasad Koirala, Nepal's prime minister and president of the Nepali Congress party, said that China has remained as a major trade partner and source of joint venture investment in Nepal, and "has always been a reliable friend in Nepal's development initiatives."

Firm and continuous relations between the peoples and governments of China and Nepal is imperative for both countries to attain a new height, he said.

Politically, Nepal has as always firmly upheld its One China policy and allowed no activities on its territory that are detrimental to the interests of China, he added.

Miegombyn Enkhbold, Mongolian prime minister and chairman of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party, noted that China's social-economic development has been progressing in leaps and bounds thanks to the smooth implementation of its reform and opening-up policy.

He said that the CPC will review at the congress its great achievements made in the past and map out a grand blueprint for its future development.

Sergei Mironov, chairman of the Russian Federation Council and chairman of the Russia of Justice: Fatherland, Pensioners, Life party, said that his party is ready to further promote cooperation with the CPC so as to strengthen the China-Russia friendship.

He highlighted the importance of frequent contacts between the leaders of the two nations and further enhanced bilateral relations and exchanges in various fields, saying that it will make positive influence on the world politics and the well-beings of the peoples of the two countries.

The successful cooperation between Russia and China within the framework of the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will make a tremendous impact on the formation of a multi-polar world and the equal relations among all the nations around the world.

Ichiro Ozawa, leader of the Democratic Party of Japan, extended his heartfelt congratulations to the CPC, hoping that China and Japan could jointly shoulder responsibilities in maintaining regional peace and stability.

He noted that his party and the CPC reached a consensus on the establishment of a regular exchange mechanism in July 2006, which should serve as a platform for the two sides to intensify their friendly exchanges.

A.B. Bardhan, general secretary of the Communist Party of India, said that the CPC, under the guidance of the Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of "Three Represents" and the Scientific Outlook on Development, has united and led the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in building socialism with Chinese characteristics, and has made tremendous achievements in various fields.

Under the leadership of the CPC, China has yielded big results in the progress of socialist modernization, and has attained the major goals set forth by the last Congress, he said.

He added that the Indian Communists are confident that this process will be further strengthened by the 17th Congress of the CPC.

Soetrisno Bachir, general chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) of Indonesia, and Zulkifli Hasan, secretary general of the PAN, said in their message to the CPC that they hope the two parties would continue to deepen cooperation and exchanges and develop friendly relations.

Franklin M. Drilon, president of the Liberal Party of the Philippines and former Senate President, applauded the leadership the CPC has provided towards various reforms and achievements in the different facets of development in China.

The bilateral relations of the two countries continue to develop and yield new levels of cooperation in various fields and such relations will ultimately help enhance regional stability, he said.

President of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino party and Senator Edgardo F. Angara said that the CPC National Congress has played a vital role in promoting social harmony among its citizens and has successfully united all ethnic groups towards a modern society.

Ranil Wickremesinghe, leader of Sri Lanka's United National Party, said that the CPC has achieved great heights in the economic progress of China by maintaining the policy of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

He was sure that the Chinese people will achieve further progress in their economic well-being.

Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal, said in his message that the CPC, since its foundation, has been playing a vital role in the socialist movement in maintaining world peace and striving for the progressive cause of the mankind.

"The achievements gained in China under socialism with Chinese characteristics are not only significant for the Chinese people but also heartening for the socialist cause throughout the world," he said.

The Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) said in its message that China's economic development has not only improved the Chinese people's livelihood and reduced poverty, but also brought a new opportunity for the social progress and well-being.

The PSOE is willing to strengthen cooperation with the CPC and cooperation with China in trade and economy on the basis of sincerity, equilibrium and mutual benefit, said the message.

Milo Djukanovic, president of the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro (DPS), said that since China adopted the reform and opening-up policy nearly three decades ago, the Chinese people, under the leadership of the CPC, have overcome various problems and challenges.

The 17th National Congress is bound to raise China's economic development to a new level, he said.

Predrag Sekulic, political director of the DPS, said his party firmly believes that the 17th National Congress will establish a guiding principle for China and the Chinese people to continue to realize development and prosperity.

Mogens Lykketoft, foreign policy spokesman for the Social Democratic Party of Denmark, said the 17th National Congress of the CPC will make "very important decisions for the people of China and for the wider world."

"We want to express our sincere wish to develop even stronger relations with China -- in friendly people to people exchanges, in the field of economy and investment, in science and education and in culture," he said.

Bereket Simon, Executive Committee Member of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), expressed admiration for the Chinese people's achievements under the leadership of the CPC, saying China has been transformed "into a global force for development and stability."

He expressed his sincere belief that the resolutions of the 17th Congress of the CPC and their implementation will benefit not only the Chinese people but also the whole world and in particular the people of the developing countries.

In the congratulatory message, the Secretariat of the Political Bureau of the People's Liberation Movement of Angola (MPLA) said the convening of 17th National Congress will undoubtedly further deepen China's reforms and bring benefits to the Chinese people.

Celso Humberto Delgado, coordinator of international affairs of the Institutional Revolutionary Party of Mexico, expressed his warmest greetings and best wishes to the CPC and hoped that the Congress would achieve its set targets, adding that his party looks forward to strengthening and consolidating the friendly cooperative relations between the two parties and the two peoples.

The chairman of Vietnam Peace Committee, Vu Dinh Cu, said the ongoing Congress is of great significance to the CPC and the Chinese people. He believed that the successful convening of the Congress will push for new progress in China's reform and opening-up and the socialist modernization drive, and will make more contribution to safeguarding regional and world peace and promoting cooperation, friendship and development.

The general secretary of the World Peace Council (WPC), Thanassis Pafilis, in his congratulatory message, extended his sincere greetings and wished the CPC Congress a great success.

"The WPC underlines its support to the sovereign right of the Chinese people to decide upon their present and future without foreign interference and whatsoever pretext, defending its territorial integrity and their own path of development," he said.

Other leaders include:

Oscar Zamora Medinaceli, president of Bolivia's Leftist Revolutionary Front and ex-president of the Bolivian Senate, and Walter Villagra Romay, general secretary of the Leftist Revolutionary Front;

Patricio Echegaray, general secretary of the Communist Party of Argentina, and Jorge A. Kreyness, the party's secretary of international relations;

Medardo Gonzalez, general coordinator of Farabundo Marti for the National Liberation Front of El Salvador;

Gisela Chung, president of the Liberal Republic Nationalist Movement of Panama;

Hugo Guiraud, chairman of the Democratic Revolutionary Party of Panama;

Alberto Anaya Gutierrez, senator and general coordinator of the Workers Party of Mexico;

Pavel Brglez, general secretary of the Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia;

Srdan Milic, president of the Socialist People's Party of Montenegro;

Robert Griffiths, general secretary of the Communist Party of Britain;

Robert Hue, ex-president of the Communist Party of France and president of Gabriel Peri Foundation;

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Greece;

Imran Khan, chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Movement of Justice);

Raja Muhammad Zafar-ul-Haq, chairman of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz);

Somawansa Amarasinghe, leader of the People's Liberation Front of Sri Lanka;

The Politburo of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan of Iraq;

Anatoly Karpov, president of the International Association of Peace Foundations.

(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2007)