Social Sciences in China, 2018

Vol. 39, No. 2, 2018

Party Diplomacy during the Eighth National Congress of the CPC

(Abstract)

Yue Kui

After World War II, political parties were on the rise around the world, influencing affairs at home and abroad. Party diplomacy became a new type of diplomacy. The Eighth National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 1956 was a major event in the history of CPC diplomacy, as it was the first Congress the Party had convened since the founding of the People’s Republic in 1949. Particularly significant was the Party’s diplomatic activity during the Congress. Most importantly, this was the first and only time since 1949 that foreign party delegations had been invited to attend the Congress. The Party’s active conduct of party-to-party diplomacy utilized the Eighth National Congress as a platform. More than fifty foreign party delegations were invited to attend, including delegations from fraternal parties who made speeches at the Congress. Inter-party exchanges were actively pursued, including arrangements for delegates to tour different parts of China. The party diplomacy of the Eighth National Congress achieved its purpose of deepening inter-party friendship and exchanges by showcasing post-1949 China and highlighting the Party’s goals. It thus had a far-reaching historical significance.

Keywords: Eighth National Congress of CPC, party diplomacy, national diplomacy