BEIJING -- The Workers' Party of Korea, the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Communist Party of Cuba and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party have sent congratulatory messages to the Communist Party of China (CPC) on the convening of its 17th National Congress.

In its telegram, the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) felicitated the CPC on the convening of its 17th National Congress, and extended greetings to all CPC members and the Chinese people.

The message said that since its 16th National Congress five years ago, the CPC, adhering to the thought of putting people first, has adopted a series of new policies such as the construction of a harmonious socialist society and the scientific outlook on development, opened up new prospects for the socialist modernization cause with Chinese characteristics and scored remarkable new achievements in the causes of realizing the reunification of the motherland and safeguarding world peace.

It said that the WPK is delighted to see the success the Chinese people have achieved under the leadership of the CPC with Hu Jintao as the general secretary, and believes that the traditional friendship between the two countries will be strengthened and further promoted in accordance with the aspiration and interests of the two parties and the two peoples.

The WPK Central Committee wished great success for the CPC's 17th National Congress, it said.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) described the national congress as an event of historic significance for the CPC and the Chinese people as a whole.

"We firmly believe that new decisions and policies made at the congress are bound to push forward the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics into a new phase of development," said the party in its message.