III. Close Cooperation Between Political Parties
Over the years, the CPC has worked together with the non-CPC political parties, advancing side by side, withstanding all kinds of tests, and forming a new type of relationship featuring cooperation, unity and harmony.
The CPC is in a leading and ruling position. The Constitution stipulates, “The socialist system is the fundamental system of the People’s Republic of China. Leadership by the Communist Party of China is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics.” The CPC is the leadership core of Chinese socialism. The other political parties and non-affiliates accept the leadership of the CPC and support its ruling status. The CPC exercises leadership over them through political guidance, mainly on political principles, direction, and major policies. It supports other political parties and non-affiliates in independently carrying out their work and performing their functions and duties. Upholding the leadership of the CPC is a distinctive feature and an important part of China’s political party system. It is also the primary prerequisite for the sound development of multiparty cooperation and acts as a fundamental guarantee.
Non-CPC political parties participate in state governance under socialism with Chinese characteristics. They are not in opposition, nor are they bystanders or outsiders. Instead, they participate in state governance under the leadership of the CPC. Their role includes the administration of state affairs, consultation on major principles and policies and candidates for important leading positions, and the formulation and implementation of state policies, laws and regulations. Their status and their right to participate in the administration of state affairs are protected by the Constitution, which is an important manifestation of people’s democracy. They offer their advice and invest effort on major issues concerning China’s economic and social development, and they have witnessed, practiced, upheld and defended the cause of Chinese socialism.
The CPC is a close friend to other political parties. The CPC attaches great importance to the role of the non-CPC political parties in the country’s political and social life, and respects, protects and accommodates their interests. These parties agree with the CPC’s basic theory, line and policy, and act as its advisers, helpers and partners. The CPC, together with these parties and non-affiliates, conducts political consultation in good faith, carries out extensive political cooperation, consolidates the common political and theoretical foundations, and works to enhance multiparty cooperation.
The CPC and the non-CPC political parties supervise each other. The non-CPC political parties exercise oversight over the CPC mainly by putting forward opinions, criticism and suggestions; the oversight is consultative and cooperative in nature. The CPC, as the ruling party in a leadership position, willingly accepts the supervision of other political parties. The CPC and the non-CPC political parties are close friends who speak truth to each other and address all mistakes together. The purpose of mutual oversight is not to fight, weaken, or constrain each other, but to promote common progress. The non-CPC political parties conduct oversight over the CPC mainly for the purpose of helping the CPC exercise rational, democratic and law-based governance.
