Political consultation is a major aspect of China's multi-party cooperation system, says a white paper published by the Information Office of China's State Councilon Thursday.

After many years of practice, two basic modes of political consultation in the multi-party cooperation system have been formed: the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s consultation with democratic parties, and the CPC's consultation with democratic parties and representatives from all circles at the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Since the early 1990s, the CPC Central Committee's consultation with democratic parties has been covering more and more topics while the procedures have been gradually standardized, says the white paper titled China's Political Party System.

From 1990 to the end of 2006, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and their entrusted agencies, organized more than 230 consultation conferences, seminars and briefings, of which 74 were presided over by the general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, according to the white paper.

Over the past three years, according to the paper, democratic parties and personages without party affiliation have raised suggestions and proposals on the opinion-solicitation drafts of many important documents such as the Decision of the CPC Central Committee on the Enhancement of the Party's Governance Capability.

The CPC also listens to their opinions and suggestions on candidates for leaders of the National People's Congress and the CPPCC, amendments to the Constitution and a good number of drafts of state laws including Legislation Law, Anti-Secession Law, according to the paper.

"Many of their suggestions and proposals have been adopted by the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and departments concerned," it says.

Furthermore, the central committees of democratic parties and representatives of personages without party affiliation have submitted to the CPC Central Committee over 200 important written proposals, says the paper, adding "their proposals are highly valued and accepted by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and have produced good social effects."

The paper says the system for local CPC committees at various levels to consult the leaders of local committees of democratic parties at the corresponding levels on major issues of respective regions has also been institutionalized.

The extensive consultation conducted by the CPC committees with democratic parties at various levels has vigorously enhanced the scientific and democratic decision-making of the ruling party, it says.

Editor: Donald