Global delegates tour Party school

Around 200 delegates from foreign political parties and organizations made a visit on Friday to the Party School of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China ahead of a high-level interparty dialogue, according to the International Department of the CPC Central Committee.

It is the first time the Party school has held a large-scale communication activity with parties from different countries since 2010, when the school was opened to 120 senior diplomats stationed in China from over 110 countries and regions.

The interparty dialogue, which started on Thursday and will continue through Sunday, is China's first multinational diplomatic activity since the Party's 19th National Congress in October. The dialogue includes around 600 delegates from over 300 political parties and organizations from 120 countries.

During the visit, the foreign delegates visited the history museum of the Party school, viewed the main buildings and held a meeting at the school.

"The first stop at the Party school before the high-end meeting is positive and significant," said Hong Daode, law professor from China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing.

"Through visiting, the foreign delegates could fully understand the Party school's function and its key role at different historical periods. They will learn better about the Party's historic development and Chinese leaders' thoughts on governing the country," he said

Jouni Ovaska, secretary-general of Centre Party of Finland, said, "I think it is a good way to teach people how the Party works and its research and studies, with lots of benefit for everyone, from the ministerial level to the local level," he said.

He said three words to describe the Communist Party of China would be "progressive, big and well-governed".

Robert Colvile, director of the Centre for Policy Studies of the United Kingdom, said, "I am so surprised and impressed by the scale of it. Looking at the model in the museum, you suddenly get a sense of just how large the operation is and how far-reaching the efforts have to be."

The importance of the dialogue is that "it's not just about what's happening in China, but it's about trying to bring people together from across the world and combine and collaborate on the problems we all face," he said.

The Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC is the highest institution of learning in charge of training high-and middle-ranking leaders of the Party and fostering Marxist theory among cadres.

School officials said it is an important center for studying leaders' theories and thoughts, including Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and a place for developing Party spirit. It is also a research institute on philosophy and social sciences for the CPC.

Li Xueqing and Meng Zhe contributed to this story.

zhangyan1@chinadaily.com.cn