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Japanese papers focus on China's fourth constitutional
revision
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The NPC and CPPCC sessions 2004, the first sessions held by
China's new leadership, drew close attention from neighboring
Japan.
A focus of Japanese media is China's fourth-time constitutional
revision, especially the content on protecting private property.
Asahi Shimbun pointed out that the Constitution amendments
further clarified and strengthened the provision on protecting
private property, which reflected the development of China's market
economy and non-public sectors. The paper also listed other
eye-catching topics in the amending draft, such as "Three
Represents" theory and respect for and protection of human rights,
and opened a column to introduce the Chinese Constitution and
background of the "Three Represents" thought.
Yomiuri Shimbun, apart from similar reports, stressed
that Premier Wen Jiabao would make his first report of government
work to the NPC session. And the much-expected report is to reveal
how the Chinese government can keep balanced a steady economic
development. The newspaper also interviewed some private business
representatives attending the two sessions.
Watching at the two sessions are also mainstream Japanese
newspapers including Mainichi Shimbun, Tokyo
Shimbun and Nihon Keizai Shimbun, as well as TV and
online press. They carried timely reports on the CPPCC session
opened on March 3, and noticed that Chairman Jia Qinglin reiterated
in his report the basic principles of "One Country, Two Systems",
"Peaceful reunification" as well as China's opposition to any
Taiwan splitist activities in any form.
Chinese-language newspapers in America zoom in on
constitutional revision
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Chinese-language newspapers in America, which traditionally like
to follow closely NPC and CPPCC annual sessions, reported the
opening of the Second Session of the 10th CPPCC, with their focus
also laid on the fourth constitutional amendment.
Sing Tao USA gave a detailed list of main points about
and suggestions to the revision this time. On top of putting the
important thought "Three Represents" into the Constitution, the
protection of citizens' rights is also raised to an unprecedented
constitutional height. The paper analyzed and commented on four
items concerning concrete citizen rights out of the 14 suggestions
in the amendment proposal by the CPC central committee, saying they
will serve an inestimable motive force for China's economic and
social development in the future. Putting "the state respects and
protects human rights" into the Constitution, the report pointed
out particularly, not only serves as a summary in law of past
successful practices in the human rights field, but will establish
the principle as a basic norm in the work of all state organs.
The China Press carried an editorial hailing the
opening of the two sessions, saying that the entry of human rights
article into the Constitution indicates higher human rights
implementation as well as a stronger ability to construct political
civilization. The "human-oriented" democratic spirit expressed by
China's new leadership in both actions and policies in the past
year has won wide appreciation from among overseas Chinese. During
his visit to France early this year, President Hu Jintao said the
Chinese government was earnestly studying the "Convention on
Citizen's Rights and Political rights", and would table a proposal
for the NPC approval once time is mature. His remark won much
appreciation and support from the international community.
It's a wise choice for China to build its democratic politics in
a firm and steady way, the editorial said. "Democracy" plus "free
market" can never be a cure-all remedy, nor is it that democracy
comes directly and merely from elections, or a market is there once
control is given up. The aim of democracy doesn't lie in procedures
of "decision by the majority", but in how to give full play to
human's creativity by these processes in order to maximize the
well-beings of humankind. Based on the "human-oriented" ruling
concepts featuring "power exercised for people", "emotion tied on
people" and "benefits sought for people", China has laid stress on
knowledge educational, moral education, improvement of living
standards and innovations, and special attention paid to "governing
by law". Such a new starting point will surely make the democratic
and political construction smoother and the goal of democratic
politics better attained.
Nouvelles D'europe article highlights the role
of CPPCC
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Nouvelles D'europe published an editorial on March 3,
showing concern for the CPPCC session opened that day, saying CPPCC
is getting mature and would play an increasing role in China's
political life.
Entitled "CPPCC playing bigger role", the article explained that
political consultative conference is an administrative organization
special to China, whose major tasks are political consultation,
democracy supervision, participation in and discussion on political
affairs. Having been existed in China for 55 years, the political
organization has been accepted by the broad masses of common people
and is now playing an increasingly important role.
From the central to county levels, CPPCC members come from all
ethnic groups, religious groups, sectors and social statuses. They
know by heart the wishes and interests of different social
communities. As a result, their proposals are quite objective and
practical. They convey the public voices to the central leadership
and help much in the state's policy making. The CPPCC and
democratic parties also play a big role in pushing forward the
national reunification, the article said. Facing more and more
furious attacks from splitist forces of Taiwan, overseas Chinese
have held huge and grand conferences in all continents calling for
opposition to "Taiwan independence" and promotion of peaceful
reunification, each attended by senior representatives from the
CPPCC. This is doubtless a strong cohesive force, a national
emotion that cannot be replaced by other forces.
(People's Daily March 9, 2004)
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