Party delegation attends int’l conference in Mexico   The Mexican Labour Party (PT) (Illustrative image: Photo: VNA) A Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) delegation led by Standing Deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, Vuong Thua Phong, has paid a working visit to Mexico to attend the 18 th international conference themed “Parties and a new society.” Addressing the event, Phong noted that 2014 is a year of both great opportunities and challenges. Although the peace, cooperation and development trend is playing a key role, complicated and unexpected situations still occur, he said. These, plus the slow global economic recovery, serious financial crisis, public debts and fierce competition among economies, have posed negative impacts to the socio-economic development in many countries. The official said that in this context, Vietnam continues sticking to, completing and developing its renewal direction approved during the 11th Congress of the CPV, striving to make Vietnam a basically industrialised country in a modern orientation by 2020 with prosperous people, true democracy, equality and a civilised society, following socialism. He said Vietnam, with its active foreign policy, has established diplomatic relations with more than 200 political parties in 11 countries, including over 100 communist and workers’ parties and nearly 80 others involving in parliaments. With the proactive operation of the party’s external relations, last year, the country set up strategic partnership with five more countries and comprehensive partnership with two others, raising the number of its strategic partners to 13 and comprehensive partners to 11, including five standing members of the United Nations Security Council, he said. Phong added that Vietnam has become more active in giving ideas and initiatives with high responsibilities in various matters including security and common development of the region and the world. Phong also hailed the Mexico Labour Party (PT) for organising the conference that attracted the participation of more than 500 delegates from 38 countries all over the world. He described the occasion as a chance for progressive left-wing forces around the world to meet and share their experience, thus fostering their solidarity. During the event, PT Secretary General Alberto Anaya Guitierrez introduced to participants a book entitled “Vietnamese Marxism – Following Marx’s Road” by late CPV General Secretary Truong Chinh. During their visit from March 27-30 at the invitation of the PT, Phong and the delegation had a working session with the Secretary for External Relations of the Mexico’s ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) Javier Vega Camargo. The two sides expressed their wish to set up a stronger partnership in the coming time and agreed on the need to strengthen delegation exchanges. Phong also met with PT Secretary General Alberto Anaya Guitierrez who spoke highly of Vietnam ’s regular attendance at conferences hosted by the PT. Guitierrez underscored the significance of the cooperation between PT and CPV, voicing his desire to further boost ties, fostering the relations between the two countries. Phong also led a wreath at the President Ho Chi Minh statue in Mexico City and met staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in the country.-VNA