MOSCOW, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) has studied the defeat of the Soviet Communist Party and made China a driver of the global economy, Russian Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov says.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, the long-time Communist leader said that he believes China's success would continue.

"After the defeat of the Soviet Communist Party and collapse of the Soviet Union, the Chinese have studied our tragedy thoroughly and scientifically," Zyuganov said.

The "secret" of China's success, he added, is that the CPC has succeeded in uniting Marxist-Leninist ideas with the experience of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, century-long traditions of Confucianism and modern training on human resources.

"The CPC has found a rational balance between state, collectivity and individual. They have also promoted social guarantees and security," Zyuganov said. "And they have not lost political principles."

Highly valuing China's robust economic development, the Russian Communist leader said China's experience has not only amazed Asia, but the world.

For instance, now China is one of the largest trading partners of the United States, Zyuganov said.

"I also remember the leaders of Thailand and Philippines have said, 'Only for salvation of nearly 400 million people from utter poverty, the Communist Party of China deserved a memorial,'" he said.

Zyuganov also noted that China has become the world's second largest economy under the CPC's leadership and has maintained growth amidst global economic troubles.

"The global crisis has affected some 200 countries, and its new wave has been engulfing the U.S. and the whole Europe. Nearly all economies have slowed down, including those in Asia," Zyuganov said.

"But in the Asia-Pacific region, the situation was better compared to other regions. An important reason for this is China. China is an engine which is pulling the global economy out of the hardships," he said.

The Russian Communist leader also pointed out that there were also problems in China, noting the gap between the rich and the poor.

"But the number of poor people has decreased rapidly in China. Chinese President Hu Jintao has repeatedly stressed the necessity to bridge that gap," Zyuganov said.

Referring to contacts between the CPC and his party, Zyuganov said the two organizations have already signed several inter-party cooperation agreements that have been implemented successfully over the past decades.

"I am very glad that our relations, inter-party and comradely, are on the rise. Nearly all high-level delegations from China have met with us. And nearly every year, our high-level delegations visit China," Zyuganov said.

"Besides, every year we send to China delegations of our party's young promising comrades for internship there. They were very much impressed with their trips to China and told us the professional level of Chinese officials is very high," he said.

He also pointed out that Chinese leaders have paid a lot of attention to national minority policies, saying "as I know all ethnic groups have been presented at all levels in China."

"That's very important," he said.

Citing the stagnation of the U.S. and European economies and worsening situations in other countries, Zyuganov said China now "bears a mission to help the rest of the world to overcome the crisis, to get out of that deadlock provoked by the U.S. liberal economic model."

On the upcoming 18th national congress of the CPC, which is expected to produce a new central leadership in November, Zyuganov said he believes the congress will summarize global and domestic situations and chart the course for China's better development. Enditem