Representatives participate in the World Symposium for Marxist Political Parties via video links on Thursday. Photo: Yu Jincui/GT

As the world is facing grave challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, unilateralism, hegemony and a looming new cold war, representatives of Marxist political parties of some 20 countries discussed on Thursday evening via video links over how to promote the development of Marxism in the new era and how they can better work together to jointly cope with those challenges.

In a congratulatory letter sent to the World Symposium for Marxist Political Parties hosted by the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese President Xi Jinping said that China stands ready to jointly promote the cause of human progress and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind with Marxist political parties worldwide.

Representatives participating in the symposium agreed that the development and achievements of the CPC over the past 100 years have provided a very important reference for Marxist parties in other countries around the world and played a significant role in promoting the world's socialist and communist cause. 

Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, said in a congratulatory letter to the symposium that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, and under the leadership of the CPC, China has made historical achievements in constructing socialism with Chinese characteristics and advancing toward building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects. China has created a miracle that not only has satisfied its people's desire for a better life, but also brought benefits to the people of the world, Sisoulith noted. He said his party is willing to deepen strategic communication with the CPC and other progressive left-wing forces in the world to contribute to the development and growth of socialism around the world.  

In a keynote speech, Song Tao, minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, emphasized that standing on the people's side represents the fundamental political stance of the CPC, and it is what distinguishes a Marxist political party from other political parties.

Mauro Alboresi, secretary of the Italian Communist Party, spoke highly of the people-centered governing philosophy of the CPC. He told the Global Times that China has displayed strong resolve in fighting the global challenge of COVID-19 and the key to China's success in bringing the epidemic under control is the people-centered governing philosophy of the CPC. "China's approach to deal with the pandemic is not accidental, it has demonstrated the correctness of the governing philosophy of the CPC that puts the people at the center," Alboresi said.

Alboresi also told the Global Times that under the influence of the US, many Western countries have now regarded China as a threat and want to isolate China. "But the external forces are unable to thwart China's development momentum, nor will they influence China's development process," he emphasized, adding that the unilateralism and hegemony represented by the US cannot be accepted by all countries and the China-proposed community with shared future for mankind conforms to the general development of human society.