About 32,000 Chinese who are not members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) were working in government agencies above the county level as of the end of 2010, an official said Wednesday.

The 32,000 government workers are members of the country's eight non-Communist parties or have no party affiliation, Chen Xiqing, deputy head of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said at a press conference.

Prominent examples include Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang and Minister of Health Chen Zhu.

Like Wan and Chen, 19 non-Communists serve in leading positions in the country's Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate and central government departments under the State Council, or China's Cabinet, Chen said.

There are 207 non-CPC members serving as leading officials in provincial-level legislatures, governments or political advisory bodies.

Among the 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in the Chinese mainland, 30 have vice governors, vice chairmen or vice mayors who are non-Communists. In addition, 33 non-Communists hold top positions in provincial-level government departments, Chen said.

There are also 654 non-Communist party members or people with no party affiliation assuming leading roles in provincial courts, social organizations, research institutes and state-owned companies.

"Many non-Communist officials have told us that they are influential in decision-making and that their views are heard at CPC meetings," Chen said.