It points out that academic research on global and regional governance has long focused on states and international organizations, relatively neglecting the role of political parties as important domestic political actors. Given the special position of political parties (especially ruling parties) in domestic politics and their inevitable influence on international affairs, it is necessary to "bring political parties back in," particularly for Asia-Pacific regional governance. By examining the practical forms and governance value of transnational party interactions, this provides new perspectives and pathways for deepening regional governance.

I. Overall Situation of Political Parties in the Asia-Pacific Region

Taking sovereign states among the 21 APEC members as the research scope, this section analyzes the overall situation of political parties in the Asia-Pacific region. First, it notes that the number of political parties in the region is considerable, citing specific data from Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia and other countries to illustrate how this scale provides a foundation of actors for transnational interactions. Second, it classifies political parties into three categories by ideology: proletarian parties, bourgeois parties, and other types, emphasizing that parties of different attributes have varying positions and objectives in transnational interactions. Finally, it identifies four party system models: one-party rule, one-party dominance, two-party or multi-party rotation, and "weak party" systems, noting that these differences directly affect each party's authority, capacity, and willingness to engage in external exchanges.

II. Main Platforms and Specific Practices of Transnational Party Interactions in the Asia-Pacific Region

This section examines two main platform forms and specific practices of transnational party interactions in the Asia-Pacific region. Transnational party exchanges can be divided into three basic forms: transnational liaison, knowledge transfer, and inter-party organizations, which vary in institutionalization, openness, and asymmetry. In practice, the state of party interactions is closely related to interstate relations: interactions are frequent when relations are good, and can play a buffering and mediating role when relations are tense.

Bilateral platforms are the foundational form of interaction, characterized by strong targeting and high flexibility. They can deepen friendly cooperation and also build communication bridges when state relations are strained. The exchange mechanism between ruling parties of China and Japan is a typical case. Despite challenges in bilateral relations, exchanges between the Communist Party of China and Japan's Liberal Democratic Party and Komeito Party have maintained continuity. In January 2025, the mechanism, suspended for nearly seven years, was restarted, with the ninth meeting conducting dialogue on the theme of "China-Japan Relations in a Great Transformation."

Multilateral platforms are the core vehicle for large-scale, institutionalized interactions. The International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), initiated by Philippine political parties in 2000, does not draw ideological lines and currently involves over 350 Asia-Pacific political parties. The Communist Party of China first hosted the conference in 2004 and has continued to participate. The Asia-Pacific Socialist Organization, established in 1970, includes five socialist parties from Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia, conducting activities around three major themes: social equity, livelihood improvement, and regional cooperation, forming deep linkages with the APEC framework.

The Communist Party of China has led the expansion of the breadth and depth of Asia-Pacific party interactions by hosting events such as the High-Level Dialogue of World Political Parties, Leaders' Summits, and the Belt and Road People-to-People Connectivity Forum. The Dialogue with Political Parties of Neighboring Countries held in May 2025 adopted a joint initiative, transforming the political consensus of building a community with a shared future into five specific directions of action: consolidating strategic mutual trust and strengthening governance mutual learning.

III. Important Value of Transnational Party Interactions for Asia-Pacific Regional Governance

This section discusses the fourfold value of transnational party interactions for Asia-Pacific regional governance: first, building the foundation of political mutual trust, resolving misunderstandings and differences through dialogue mechanisms beyond the governmental level to lay a solid foundation for governance; second, promoting mutual learning of governance experience, breaking geographical barriers to help countries optimize governance models; third, gathering momentum for practical cooperation, using party influence to promote cooperation in trade, infrastructure, cultural and other fields to benefit people's livelihoods; fourth, maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, coordinating positions and resolving contradictions to oppose external interference and build an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future. The section emphasizes that as a link connecting domestic and regional governance, transnational party interactions are a key pathway to resolving regional governance dilemmas and achieving lasting peace and common prosperity.

IV. Deepening Transnational Party Interactions to Solidly Advance Asia-Pacific Regional Governance

This section explores three pathways for deepening transnational party interactions to advance Asia-Pacific regional governance: first, taking the building of an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future as conceptual guidance to gather governance consensus and abandon zero-sum game thinking; second, improving multilateral party exchange mechanisms, both cultivating existing platforms such as the International Conference of Asian Political Parties and drawing on the "APEC approach" to foster new mini-multilateral mechanisms; third, taking the building of bilateral communities with a shared future as a handle to thicken the foundation for cooperation, using the China-Laos community with a shared future as a model to promote bilateral party interactions and practical cooperation, ultimately injecting lasting momentum into Asia-Pacific regional governance.