This year marks the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP). Both parties were founded in July 1921, an extraordinary milestone of the international communist cause. Joint centennial celebrations are already on the agenda, as revealed at an opening ceremony for a webinar on the joint celebration of two centenaries jointly held by the two parties on February 2. They are committed to working together to usher in a new era of cooperation and communication.

Strong similarities

As Solly Mapaila, First Deputy General Secretary of the SACP, pointed out in his speech at the opening ceremony, the SACP and the CPC have strong similarities and are complementary to each other, and have together made important contributions to the cause of socialism.

Indeed, both parties, guided by Marxism, have been committed to national liberation and socialist exploration. In the past 100 years, the CPC has always kept in mind its founding mission of seeking happiness for the Chinese people and rejuvenation for the Chinese nation. By upholding its nature as a Marxist party and integrating the basic principles of Marxism with the reality of the country, the CPC has explored a road of socialism with Chinese characteristics, which has brought profound changes in China. After its success in eliminating absolute poverty, it is now embarking on a new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country.

For its part, the SACP has always been at the forefront of the struggle against colonialism and racist domination, which achieved a democratic breakthrough. The new South Africa was established in 1994. The South African society has undergone a tremendous transformation ever since. As a partner in the Tripartite Alliance consisting of the African National Congress and the Congress of South African Trade Union, the SACP is devoted to health and well-being issues. Millions of people have benefited from this commitment.

"The century-long struggle of the two parties for their missions has made remarkable contributions to the global socialist movement, proving the validity of Marxism and demonstrating the strong vitality of socialism," said Li Mingxiang, Assistant Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), in his speech at the ceremony.

Inter-party exchanges

The similarities in their missions and visions have made the two parties interconnected through inter-party communication channels. During the last decade, the SACP has regularly sent its senior cadre study group to China and exchanged views with the CPC on development experiences in politics, economy, society, culture, ecology and other fields. On the occasion of the national congress and big celebrations of the SACP, the CPC has also sent its representatives and goodwill delegations to attend the events.

The momentum has been maintained and even strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic. At a five-day online training workshop for senior cadres of the SACP held by the IDCPC in April 2020, both sides conducted exchanges via video link on enhancing epidemic prevention and control, carrying forward China-Africa friendship, coordinating economic and social development, and poverty alleviation.

In his speech at the opening ceremony of the workshop, Mapaila applauded and appreciated the CPC for hosting the online training workshop, which served as a "valuable chance for the SACP to learn China's experience in defeating the coronavirus disease" and "has opened up a new way for the two parties' exchanges and cooperation." He noted that China has achieved prominent progress in fighting the epidemic at home and also actively assisted the global fight against the disease. "This testified vividly to the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, and greatly enhanced the influence of the socialist system," he said.

"The SACP hopes to further consolidate its relations with the CPC and strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the fields of economy, investment and trade for mutual benefit and win-win results," said Mapaila.

（Print Edition Title: Common Commitment）

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Inter-Party Exchanges Between the CPC and the SACP During the Past Decade

• The CPC and the SACP jointly held a webinar on celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the two parties in February 2021.

• The CPC held a five-day online training workshop for SACP senior cadres in April 2020.

• SACP senior cadre study group exchanged views with IDCPC leaders on the relations between the two parties in October 2019 in Beijing.

• Guo Yezhou, Vice Minister of the IDCPC, met with SACP senior cadre study group in December 2018 in Beijing.

• Xu Luping, then Vice Minister of the IDCPC, met with SACP leaders in July 2018 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

• Xu Luping met with SACP senior cadre study group led by Blade Nzimande, SACP General Secretary and Minister of Transport, in May 2018 in Beijing.

• CPC goodwill delegation attended the 14th National Congress of the SACP in July 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

• Xu Luping met with SACP delegation in September 2016 in Beijing.

• Xu Luping met with Blade Nzimande, General Secretary of the SACP and then Minister of Higher Education and Training of the South African government, in July 2015, in Beijing.

• Xu Luping met with Solly Mapaila, then Second Deputy General Secretary of the SACP, in October 2014 in Beijing.

• At the invitation of the IDCPC, SACP study group visited China from December 11 to 20, 2012.

• Ouyang Song, then Minister of the Party History Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, attended the 13th National Congress of the SACP as a representative of the CPC from July 11 to 13, 2012.

• Li Yuanchao, then Politburo Member, Secretary of the Secretariat and Minister of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, met with SACP delegation headed by Blade Nzimande, during their visit to China from May 10 to 17, 2012.

• Leng Rong, member of the CPC Central Committee and then director of Party Literature Research Office of the CPC Central Committee, attended the celebration event of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the SACP as a representative of the CPC in July 2011.