On October 11, Dean and Party Secretary Deng Chundong Met with a Delegation from the French Communist Party
On October 11, 2016, Deng Chundong, President and Party Secretary of the Institute of Marxism Studies, held a brief but in-depth symposium with representatives of the French Communist Party (PCF) at the PCF headquarters in Paris. The discussion focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation and various topics of mutual concern.
The French Communist Party representatives participating in the symposium included Ms. Lydia Samarbakhsh, Director of International Relations and Member of the Executive Committee of the PCF; Mr. Francis Wurtz, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Emeritus; and Ms. Dominique Bari, Editor-in-Chief of the French journal La Pensée and member of the Scientific Committee of the Gabriel Péri Foundation [1].
President Deng Chundong first expressed his sincere gratitude to the PCF, the Gabriel Péri Foundation, and other co-organizers of the French session of the European Forum on the "Chinese Path" [2], and voiced his desire to deepen cooperation.
Director Lydia Samarbakhsh stated that the French Communist Party attaches great importance to and is actively committed to inter-party exchanges with the Communist Party of China (CPC), particularly the mutual learning and cooperation between young Party members of both parties in the fields of Party building [3], governance [4], and cultural exchange. She noted that the successful convening of the China-Europe Forum has provided solid academic support for the development of positive and friendly bilateral relations between the two parties.
Mr. Francis Wurtz argued that the European model is currently facing a historic crisis, especially regarding social security and the protection of labor rights. He suggested that if China’s Belt and Road Initiative [5] could address the employment and welfare issues of the people in relevant countries and regions, it would surely achieve an era of mutual benefit and "win-win" results.
The two sides also exchanged views and opinions on regional hotspots such as China's sovereignty in the South China Sea and EU trade protectionism. Finally, both parties briefly summarized the proceedings of the 2016 French session of the forum and engaged in preliminary consultations regarding the forum's theme for 2017.
Other Chinese representatives participating in the symposium included Researcher Tang Zhouyan, Party Secretary of the Shandong Academy of Social Sciences; Researcher Lyu Weizhou, Director of the Department of International Communist Movement at the Institute of Marxism Studies (CASS); and Editor-in-Chief Ji Yongchao of the Anhui Academy of Social Sciences.
(Reported by He Qin)