China's State Council Information Office on Friday issued a white paper titled "China's Political Party System: Cooperation and Consultation," elaborating on the distinctive characteristics and strengths of the country's political party system.
China's Political Party System:
Cooperation and Consultation
The State Council Information Office of
the People's Republic of China
June 2021
First Edition 2021
ISBN 978-7-119-12735-4
© Foreign Languages Press Co. Ltd., Beijing, China, 2021
Published by Foreign Languages Press Co. Ltd.
24 Baiwanzhuang Road, Beijing 100037, China
Distributed by China International Book Trading Corporation
35 Chegongzhuang Xilu, Beijing 100044, China
P.O. Box 399, Beijing, China
Printed in the People's Republic of China
Contents
Preamble 1
I. China’s Political Parties 3
II. A Unique Political Creation 10
III. Close Cooperation Between Political Parties 14
IV. China’s Political Party System Has Distinctive Characteristics and Strengths 16
V. The CPC Consults with Other Political Parties and Non-Affiliates 19
VI. The CPC Supports Other Political Parties and Non-Affiliates in Conducting Democratic Oversight 22
VII. The CPC Cooperates with Other Political Parties and Non-Affiliates in Governing the Country 24
VIII. Non-CPC Political Parties and Non-Affiliates Provide Advice on Economic and Social Development 27
IX. The CPPCC Is an Important Political and Organizational Platform in China’s Political Party System 30
Conclusion 33
Preamble
A country’s political party system is a major component of its political framework and makes a critical contribution to democracy. The system best suited to a country is determined by its history, traditions, and realities. There are many types of political party system around the world, and there is not a single system that is good for all countries.
The system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is a basic element of China’s political framework. A new model grown out of the soil of China, it also learns from other countries and absorbs the fruits of their political achievements. The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China stipulates, “The system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China will continue and develop long into the future.”
In this system, in addition to the CPC, there are eight other political parties: the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, the China Democratic League, the China National Democratic Construction Association, the China Association for Promoting Democracy, the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, the China Zhi Gong Party, the Jiusan Society, and the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League. The system also includes prominent individuals without affiliation to any of the political parties (hereinafter referred to as “non-affiliates”).
Following the principles of long-term coexistence, mutual oversight, sincerity, and sharing the rough times and the smooth, the CPC and the other political parties have created a multiparty cooperation system in which the CPC exercises state power and the other parties participate fully in the administration of state affairs under the leadership of the CPC.
This is a unique political model. It has displayed unquestionable strength and vitality in China’s political and social life. It is essential to the task of modernizing China’s governance system and capacity. It continues to make an invaluable contribution to the political progress of humanity.
