A Middle Eastern delegation of 14 members visited the Memorial of the First National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Shanghai on April 12.

"This museum isn't just about past struggles. It's also about now, about the current efforts to build socialism with Chinese characteristics. In this era, it represents a new form of Marxism," said Kawa Mahmoud, head of the Global Civilization Initiative Research Center and former secretary of the Central Committee of the Kurdistan Communist Party of Iraq.

Nabaz Abdullah, executive director of the Global Civilization Initiative Research Center, said the CPC's birthplace is much more than just a historic building.

"It was in this very room, in 1921, that a political force was born, one that would go on to profoundly influence the world," Abdullah said.

"The lesson I take from this history is that real success depends on staying connected to the people, maintaining their support, and continuously adapting alongside them to build a stronger future."

Nizam Mohammad, a council member of the research center, said: "I am honored to visit the site and to learn about the CPC's history of struggle and endeavor spanning over 100 years, and how it successfully led China from a semi-colonial, semi-feudal society to a major global player."

Imad Samaha, another council member of the research center, said: "The secret to the CPC's success lies in the Party's continuous theoretical innovation based on Marxism and its commitment to building socialism with Chinese characteristics."

"Now that the CPC has set the goal of basically building China into a modern socialist country by 2035, I am confident that China will accomplish all the objectives. Furthermore, the CPC is a political party with a global vision and will continue to contribute to the development of humanity," he said.

The Global Civilization Initiative Research Center is a non-governmental organization initiated by the Kurdistan Communist Party of Iraq. It is a platform that promotes dialogue among civilizations, encourages mutual learning, and deepens cultural understanding across the region. It is the first institution of its kind in the Middle East.

The Global Civilization Initiative, which was proposed by China in 2023, advocates respect for the diversity of civilizations, the common values of humanity, the importance of the inheritance and innovation of civilizations, and robust international people-to-people exchanges to foster mutual understanding.

During their visit to Shanghai from April 12 to 14, the Middle Eastern delegation also toured the CPC community service center in the Lujiazui Financial City.