BAKU - A senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC) said Thursday the CPC would like to join other Asian political parties to maintain peace and development in the region and around the world.

Du Qinglin, a member of the secretariat of the CPC central committee, made the remarks while addressing the Seventh General Assembly of International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) in Baku of Azerbaijan.

Du, also vice chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, said development, equality, mutual trust and cooperation are key elements for making and maintaining peace and security.

He urged political parties in various Asian countries to work together in building a harmonious and stable environment in the region.

Du also briefed the meeting on the just-concluded 18th CPC national congress, which has set up the goal of building China into a well-off society by the year 2020.

China will always firmly follow the path of peaceful development, and attaches great importance to its cooperation with Asian political parties, he said.

He added that the CPC will continue to join others in making positive contributions to Asia's peace, development, cooperation and prosperity.

The ICAPP, which is a forum of political parties of Asia-Oceanic countries, was initiated in Manila, the Philippines in September 2000 to promote exchanges and cooperation between political parties from different countries in the region.