I don't how true this is for you personally and where this information came from. For me it has been the opposite as I've met many party members in more than one province where I've lived and worked.

I suppose a good point is to what benefit is it to them to have a foreigner as a "Friend", and how they will be viewed by the inner circle given the current xenophobia of the present day CPC. I'd be glad not to have to meet the party secretary, but that is just me. I found even Chinese FAO's, commies or not, to be racist and unhelpful.....never mind the upper echelons.