A Great Political Invention

President Xi Jinping called the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation led by the Communist Party of China (CPC) a great contribution to the political civilization of humanity.

Xi described multiparty cooperation and political consultation as “a basic political system in China, a great political invention jointly made by the CPC, the Chinese people, all non-communist parties and those without party affiliation, and a new type of party system grown from China's soil” while attending a joint panel discussion with political advisors from the China Democratic League, the China Zhi Gong Party, those without party affiliation and returned overseas Chinese on March 4, during the First Session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Xi said the system is new because it combines Marxist political party theories with China’s reality, and truly, extensively and in the long term represents the fundamental interests of all people and ethnic groups and fulfills their aspirations, avoiding the defects of the old-fashioned party system which represents only a selective few or the vested interest.

He pointed out that the Chinese system unites all political parties and people without party affiliation toward a common goal, effectively preventing the flaws that can arise from the absence of oversight in one-party rule, or the power rotation and detrimental competition that can occur among multiple political parties.

The Chinese system pools ideas and suggestions through institutional, procedural, and standardized arrangements and develops a scientific and democratic decision making mechanism. It steers away from another weakness of the old-fashioned party system, in which decision making and governance, confined by the interests of different political parties, classes, regions and groups, tears society apart, he added.

Xi’s address provides important guidance for the CPPCC which is itself an important institution of multiparty cooperation and political consultation led by the CPC.

The CPPCC should uphold the leadership of the CPC and practice multiparty cooperation and political consultation. Such a principle has been shaped by the processes of history and has stood the test of the times to fit China’s reality. The CPPCC has a wide social basis because it not only includes China’s nine political parties--the CPC and eight non-communist parties--but also includes those without party affiliation, people’s organizations, people from all ethnic groups and sectors of society, compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, returned overseas Chinese and specially invited persons. It combines the Marxist theories on the united front, the political party and socialist democracy with China’s reality.

The CPPCC also stands for the fundamental interests of all people, all ethnic groups and all sectors of society rather than a selective few or the vested interest. In contrast, some political parties in the West tend to represent the interests of a limited group of people and once a party gains power, it will make decisions on the basis of self-preservation.

In China, all political parties work toward the common goal of national rejuvenation rather than fighting for their own interests. The non-communist parties, those with no party affiliation and people’s organizations can put forward their ideas and suggestions to the CPC and a decision is reached through discussion and consultation. Moreover, other members of the CPPCC besides the CPC are entitled to supervise the CPC’s governance to avoid the pitfalls of one-party rule. The political system is an important contribution to the political civilization of humanity because it not only prevents power rotation and detrimental competition among multiple political parties but also represents traditional Chinese values such as inclusiveness and seeking common ground while shelving differences.

China’s economic and social achievements since 1949 have been made thanks to the strong leadership of the CPC, the hard work of people of all ethnic groups and the wisdom and effort of all non-communist parties, those without party affiliation and people’s organizations.

The CPC has long attached great importance to multiparty cooperation. As the report delivered by Xi, also General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, at the 19th CPC National Congress said, “Consultative democracy is an important way of effecting Party leadership and a model and strength unique to China’s socialist democracy… The CPPCC, as a distinctively Chinese political institution, is a major channel for socialist consultative democracy.”

As China enters a decisive stage in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020, the CPPCC must bear in mind its responsibilities and improve its participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs.

This article is reprinted from Beijing Review.