Each nation must choose its own 'correct path', global delegates told

Sticking to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics under the firm leadership of the Communist Party of China is the fundamental reason for China's achievements in recent decades, a senior Party official said on Saturday.

Song Tao, head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, made the remark in a speech at the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Parties High-Level Meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on Saturday.

"The great achievements China has made since reform and opening-up shows that we have chosen a correct path," he told delegates from political parties worldwide.

The path of socialism with Chinese characteristics has been selected by both history and the Chinese people, he said, adding that only when a nation chooses a path that suits it will it achieve prosperity and the happiness of the people.

Song reiterated the stance noted in President Xi Jinping's speech on Friday that China seeks to exchange experiences in governance with other countries, but will not require others to copy its path.

Whether a nation's development path is correct or not can be decided only by its people, he said, adding that China respects the paths chosen by the peoples of all countries.

Speaking of the CPC's 19th National Congress in October, Song said the most important theoretical outcome of the congress is that it formally introduced Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

China has achieved historic progress in the past five years because the country's development was under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought, he said.

Song said the CPC will strengthen its confidence in the path, theory, system and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the process of exchanging experiences with the world's political parties. As the globe's largest political party, with 89 million members, the CPC strives not only for the prosperity of China, but also the happiness of the world's people, he said, adding that the wisdom existing in Chinese culture can provide solutions and choices for addressing global challenges and problems.

Saying that corruption is a challenge for all political parties, Song pledged that the CPC will fight corruption "with no forbidden areas, complete coverage and zero tolerance".

Li Shulei, deputy secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, said that a total of 440 senior officials at the provincial and ministerial levels have been placed under investigation in the past five years amid Party efforts to boost clean governance.

The CPC will continue to fight both "tigers and flies", meaning high-and low-level officials, and contain power using supervision, he said.

Adolfo Valderrama, general secretary of Panamenista Party of Panama, said that as Xi said on Friday, all parties should set aside disagreements and pursue consensus. He said Xi's visionary proposals like the Belt and Road Initiative provide solutions to world problems.