The story appears on

Page A2

March 13, 2018

GET this page in PDF

Free for subscribers

View shopping cart

Related News

HomeNation

CPPCC move key step to drive democracy

China鈥檚 top political advisory body, the Chinese People鈥檚 Political Consultative Conference, is in the process of amending its charter. The move represents a key step in the development of democracy in China.

The revision of the CPPCC charter, which will be voted on by the body鈥檚 2,000-plus members in a few days, is aligned with the amendment of the Constitution.

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has been incorporated into the draft amendment of the charter as a guiding theory of the CPPCC.

鈥淭he parallel nature of revision to the CPPCC charter and the Constitution shows the political advisers are guided by the law,鈥 said Zhou Hanmin, a national political adviser and legal expert based in Shanghai.

The CPPCC National Committee, which convenes its annual session each year in March, brings together representatives from all walks of life 鈥 economists, scientists, educators, doctors, diplomats, religious leaders and celebrities. They are the core advisers in China鈥檚 decision-making processes.

According to the draft amendment, the idea of 鈥渃onsultative democracy鈥 will be written into the charter.

鈥淐onsultative democracy is a model and strength unique to China鈥檚 socialist democracy. The CPPCC is an important channel for socialist consultative democracy and specialist consultative body,鈥 part of the draft amendment reads. 鈥淭he revision highlights the importance of consultative democracy and further clarifies how we offer our advice,鈥 Zhou added.

In addition to its advisory role, another function of the CPPCC is supervision.

Supervision covers the implementation of the Constitution, laws and regulations, major state policy, as well as the handling of practical issues of social concern and the integrity of state agencies and their staff.

Over the past five years, political advisers have raised the proportion of supervision-related agenda to 28 percent. 鈥淐onsultative supervision,鈥 has been included in the draft amendment to the charter.

鈥淭his revision gives us guidance on how to conduct supervision and will improve implementation of government policy,鈥 said Gao Xiaomei, a member of the CPPCC National Committee and vice chairwoman of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang Central Committee.


 

Copyright 漏 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.

娌叕缃戝畨澶 31010602000204鍙

Email this to your friend