China published on Thursday the country's first ever white paper on its basic political system,
elaborating the origin, major characteristics and basic principles
of the system, saying that the system is an inevitable choice for
China's social development.
The white paper introduced and expounded upon the development
history of China's political party system and the important role it
plays in China's social and economic development. "The white paper
will help the international community learn the historical
background, features, advantages, values and functions of the
system," said Zhuang Congsheng, spokesman of the United Front Work
Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China
(CPC), in an interview with China.org.cn.
China's political party system, simply stated, defines the CPC
as the ruling party with eight other democratic parties also
involved in state affairs. Multiparty cooperation and political
consultation takes place under the leadership of the CPC.
Zhuang said that the political party system a country adopts is
independent of man's will and determined by the conditions and the
social development of that given country. China is no exception.
China introduced a parliamentary and multi-party system in
imitation of Western countries after the victorious Revolution in
1911. After that the Kuomintang headed by Chiang Kai-shek exercised
a one-party dictatorship and monopolized all state power between
1927 and 1949, but it inevitably failed. History has proven that
the multi-party cooperation system has unique political advantages
and strong vitality, works well and plays an irreplaceable role in
China's political and social life.
Democratic parties are neither parties out of office nor
opposition parties. They are parties fully participating in the
political life of the nation. They agree with the CPC's fundamental
theory, line, program and experience and share the same goal of
building socialism with Chinese characteristics, Zhuang said.
The CPC has consistently stressed cooperation with the
democratic parties and continued to push forward theoretical
innovation and development in practical work regarding multi-party
cooperation. President Hu Jintao said in his keynote speech to the 17th CPC National
Congress: "We will strengthen our cooperation with the democratic
parties, support them and personages without party affiliation in
better performing their functions of participation in the
deliberation and administration of state affairs and democratic
oversight, and select and recommend a greater number of outstanding
non-CPC persons for leading positions."
The white paper states that by the end of 2006, 31,000
democratic party members and personages without party affiliation
took government official posts at above the county level.
Wan Gang and Chen Zhu, now minister of science and
technology and minister of health, have been the first
non-Communist cabinet appointments since the late 1970s when China
launched its economic reform and opening up.
Political observers have said that to appoint non-CPC member
cabinet minister is an important move towards implementing and
improving the system of multi-party cooperation and political
consultation under the leadership of the CPC.
Zhuang said that no special political requirements are required
for democratic party members and personages without party
affiliation to be appointed top officials. The system provides a
very good platform for political participation and discussion, thus
allowing it to draw upon a diverse range of talents to help the
government in policy-making.
(China.org.cn by staff reporter Zhang Yunxing November 16,
2007)
