(Photo: Xinhua)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday sent a congratulatory message to a forum marking the 200th anniversary of Karl Marx's birth.

The forum, held in south China's innovative hub of Shenzhen, was attended by over 100 communist party leaders from around the world.   

They agreed that Marxism resonates even in the 21st century and still guides their way.

Song Tao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said at the event that as China develops in the new era, it continues in the spirit of Marxism. He also said that the CPC will work and update the application of the said philosophy in building a shared community.

Victor Kot Gorodeki, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Argentina, said that looking at China's achievements, he's sure of Marxism's staying power. He said Marxism's quest for equality and fairness is also the aim of the Communist Party of Argentina. "I believe the 21st century will see the global transition from capitalism to communism".

Juha-Pekka Vaisanen, Chairman of the Communist Party of Finland, said Marxism will continue to "wake the public up" in the future. He said Marx's push for equal rights to work and to life is still essential to societal growth. "And we should not only work within our own countries, but join hands in the global quest for equality and fairness," he said. 

John Bachtell, National Chairman of the Communist Party USA, said that capitalism is responsible for the world's crises, including ecological and climate catastrophes. "Only socialism can create harmony between man and nature," he said. “This is the way to humanity's shared future.”

The workshop is the first of its kind in commemorating the 19th-century thinker. Communist party representatives from more than 50 countries participated in the workshop. It‘s a special session of the CPC in Dialogue with World Political Leaders.