China's eight non-Communist parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce have vowed to work closely with the Communist Party of China (CPC) in China's modernization and reunification.
With the end of the Ninth National Congress of the China Association for Promoting Democracy over the weekend, all eight non-Communist parties have concluded their reshuffles, elected their leaders and adopted new constitutions.
Chinese leading newspaper People's Daily carried an editorial yesterday hailing the successful conclusion of the nine organizations' national meetings. The paper said the united front had played an important role in maintaining national unity and in completing the central tasks of the CPC.
Many people who are not members of the CPC currently hold important political positions in the country.
Official statistics show that 13 non-CPC members serve as vice-ministers in ministries and commissions of the State Council, China's highest governing body.
Non-Communist parties and people without party affiliation serve in the National People's Congress and its standing committee and subcommittees and in people's congresses at various levels.
Before major decisions concerning the national economy and people's livelihoods are made, the CPC consults with the non-Communist parties and non-affiliated people to seek a consensus.
Li Liangdong, a professor at the Party School of the Central Committee of the CPC, a training center for Chinese senior leaders, said there needed to be more channels for non-Communist parties to participate in and supervise state affairs, and greater multiparty cooperation and consultation.
"They play an important role in scientific and democratic policy-making," Li said.
Non-Communist parties and non-affiliated people often have valuable professional knowledge and can contribute to the discussion and administration of state affairs, the professor said.
Meanwhile, he indicated that for the CPC, the ruling party in China, gaining opinions and criticism from non-Communist parties was a must.
"Democratic supervision guarantees the socialist democracy," Li said.
Song Zhenguo, professor of China University of Political Science and Law, said the socialist political system should concentrate on improving democratic and legal systems as well as reforming and improving the CPC's style of leadership and governance.
(China Daily December 23, 2002)
