The third International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) started  Friday morning. It was the first of its kind hosted by the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and honorary director of the organizing committee of the conference, addressed the opening ceremony.

Liu Yunshan, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the organizing committee of the conference, presided over the opening ceremony.

The conference's main topics, with the theme of Exchanges, Cooperation and Development, included "regional security and multilateral cooperation", "economic growth and social progress" and "political party building and national development".

Representatives from over 80 political parties or organizations of 34 Asian countries attended the conference.

Delegates from the Socialist International, the African National Congress of South Africa and the South African Communist Party were present at the meeting as observers.

Initiated in 2000, the first two ICAPP conferences were held in the Philippines and Thailand in September 2000 and November 2002 respectively. The CPC sent representatives to the previous two meetings.

(Xinhua News Agency September 3, 2004)