Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League (TSL), one of China's eight democratic parties, opened its 8th all-league congress on Wednesday.

Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met the delegates of the congress on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.

This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the TSL.

"The TSL has acted as a close partner of the CPC and an important force to build socialism with Chinese characteristics, promote the unification of the country and realize the revival of the Chinese people," he said.

At its 17th National Congress in October, the CPC stressed the need to improve cooperation with the democratic parties, support them and people without party affiliation to better advise on state affairs and supervise the work of the CPC, Li said.

It also promised to recruit more members from democratic parties into government departments, he said.

"With the policies set at the CPC 17th National Congress, the democratic parties will enjoy a favorable environment to participate in state affairs," he said.

The TSL was founded in Hong Kong on Nov. 12, 1947 by a number of Taiwan personages engaged in patriotic campaigns after the Feb. 28 Uprising of the Taiwan people that year. The party is composed of people from Taiwan with a membership of over 2,100.

"It is a dream shared by all Chinese to solve the Taiwan issue and realize the unification of the motherland," Li said.

The CPC hopes that the TSL members will take full advantage of their close connections with Taiwan people to promote the exchanges of people and direct links of mail, transport and trade across the Taiwan Strait, he said, "The TSL shall contribute more to the peaceful development across the Strait through research on Taiwan issues and communications with the people there."

Lin Wenyi, chairwoman of the TSL, said, "The TSL will stick to the Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of 'Three Represents', adhere to the principal of Scientific Outlook on Development and work hard to close the relations and improve mutual trust across the Taiwan Strait."

Jiang Zhenghua, chairman of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party (CPWDP), addressed the congress on behalf of other democratic parties, saying that they believe the TSL 8th all-league congress will bring the party work and its partnership with the CPC to a new stage.

At the 8th all-league congress, TSL will select its new league central committee and discuss a draft amendment to the TCL's Constitution.

The Information Office of the State Council of China issued on Nov. 15 the country's first ever white paper on its political party system.

China adopts a system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), namely the multi-party cooperation system, says the white paper titled China's Political Party System.

The multi-party cooperation system is a major manifestation of socialist democracy of China and also one of China's fundamental political system, the paper said.

"The leadership of the Communist Party of China and full exercise of socialist democracy are the essential requirements of the multi-party cooperation system," says the white paper.

An increasing number of non-Communists are holding posts in government, legislature or judicial organs.

The most outstanding representatives are Wan Gang, Minister of Science and Technology, and Chen Zhu, Minister of Health, who are the first non-Communist cabinet appointments since the 1970s.

By the end of last year, 31,000 democratic party members and people without party affiliation took government official posts at and above the county level.
 
(Xinhua News Agency November 29, 2007)