The Communist Party of China (CPC) is scheduled to hold a high-level dialogue with the Democratic Party and Republican Party in the United States by the end of this year, a senior CPC official has said.
A US bipartisan delegation has extended an invitation for the CPC to attend the event, said Li Jun, spokesman for the International Department of the CPC Central Committee
The two sides will decide the details of the dialogue's agenda and timetable later, Li said.
The invitation followed the first high-level dialogue between the three main political parties. That dialogue happened when the US delegation led by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Assistant Secretary of State Richard Williamson visited China from March 30 to April 3.
"After the dialogue, Mrs Albright concluded that communication between the two parties aims to promote the mutual understanding of each other's approach to governance. She thought it helped the US to obtain an overall knowledge of China," Li told China Daily in an exclusive interview.
Li said the dialogue showed how communication among the CPC, US Democratic Party and US Republican Party has been institutionalized by maintaining contacts despite their ideological differences.
The CPC's exchange with the two main US parties are part of its efforts to "make friends all around the world", Li said.
The CPC has established contacts and exchanges with nearly 600 political parties and organizations in more than 160 countries, he said.
Questions:
1. When will the CPC hold high-level meetings with the US Democratic and Republican parties?
2. When was the first time the three political parties met, and where did the meeting take place?
3. How many political parties in how many countries are now maintaining contacts and exchanges with the CPC?
Answers:
1. Sometimes before the end of 2010.
2. The parties met from March 30 to April 3 this year in China.
3. The CPC has established contacts and exchanges with nearly 600 political parties and organization in more than 160 countries.
(中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑)
About the broadcaster:
Renee Haines is an editor and broadcaster at China Daily. Renee has more than 15 years of experience as a newspaper editor, radio station anchor and news director, news-wire service reporter and bureau chief, magazine writer, book editor and website consultant. She came to China from the United States.
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