Parties say they can learn from China

Leaders of political parties from around the world have praised China's development through reform and opening-up, saying they could learn from the country's experience.

Leaders of 65 political parties from 44 countries and regions gathered in Xiaogang village, Anhui province, for a forum on Saturday to exchange opinions on reform, development and the modernization of state governance.

"Very poor as it was, China has been relying not on help from the outside world, but the wisdom and hard work of its own people," said Ahmed Bahaa El-Din Shaaban, general secretary of the Egyptian Socialist Party.