A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said Monday that China will further friendly cooperative ties with African political parties in a bid to promote state-to-state relations.  

Ma Wenpu, deputy head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, told a seminar held in Beijing that the CPC will advance such relations under the principles of independence, full equality, mutual respect and non-interference in the others' internal affairs.

About 20 representatives from the ruling parties of Cameroon, Djibouti, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Niger, Rwanda, Seychelles and Togo attended the seminar.

"Chinese and African parties have long-lasting friendly exchange and cooperation," Ma said. "CPC and a number of African political parties once joined hands to fight for state independence and national liberation in the past; nowadays, we are all striving for developing national economies and seeking national revival."

All should make efforts to further enhance understanding, consultation, cooperation, and better the exchange of experiences between Chinese and African parties, he said, adding that such endeavor is conducive to the welfare of our own development and the peoples, to the maintenance of the common interest of developing countries, and to the world peace and stability.

The seminar provides a platform for African and Chinese parties to discuss their roles in the globalization era, said Allele Elhadji Habibou, a senior secretary of the National Movement for the Society of Development, the ruling party of Niger.

Besides Beijing, the African officials will also tour northeast China's Heilongjiang and east China's Shandong provinces.

The guests are scheduled to visit Chinese state-owned enterprises, private companies, economic and technological development zones as well as agricultural and border trade projects.

(Xinhua News Agency June 21, 2005)