The Information Office of the State Council published a white paper titled "China's Political Party System" here Thursday. Following is the full text:

China's Political Party System

Information Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China

November 2007

Contents

Preface I. An Inevitable Choice in China's Social Development II. A Basic Political System for China III. Major Manifestations of Socialist Democracy IV. Political Consultation in the Multi-party Cooperation System

V. Multi-party Cooperation System and Building of State Power VI. Multi-party Cooperation System and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference VII. Multi-party Cooperation System and Modernization Conclusion Appendix A Brief Introduction to China's Democratic Parties and Personages Without Party Affiliation

Preface

The political party system is an important component of modern democratic politics. What kind of political party system to adopt in a country is determined by the nature, national conditions and social development of that given country. The diversity of political party systems in different countries reflects the diversity of human civilizations.

The political party system China has adopted is multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) (hereinafter "multi-party cooperation system"), which is different from both the two-party or multi-party competition systems of Western countries and the one-party system practiced in some other countries. This system was established and has been developed during the long-term practice of the Chinese revolution, construction and reform. It is a basic political system that suits the conditions of China. It is a socialist political party system with Chinese characteristics, and a key component of China's socialist democratic politics.

The Constitution of the People's Republic of China states that "the multi-party cooperation and political consultation system under the leadership of the Communist Party of China shall continue to exist and develop for a long time to come." Both the CPC and the democratic parties must take the Constitution as the basic norm of their conduct, and uphold the dignity of the Constitution and ensure its implementation.

Under China's multi-party cooperation system, there are the CPC and eight other political parties. The eight democratic parties are: Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, China Democratic League, China National Democratic Construction Association, China Association for Promoting Democracy, Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, China Zhi Gong Dang, Jiu San Society and Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League. The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is an important institution of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC. Based on the principle of "long-term coexistence, mutual supervision, treating each other with sincerity and sharing each other's weal and woe," the CPC and the eight democratic parties work hand in hand in developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, thus giving rise to the basic feature of "multi-party cooperation system under the leadership of the CPC, with the CPC holding power and the other eight parties participating fully in state affairs." The multi-party cooperation system shows unique political advantage and strong vitality, and plays an irreplaceable role in China's political and social life.

Editor: Donald