Peasants and Workers Democratic Party congress opens

The Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party (CPWDP), a non-Communist political party, opened its 15th National Congress on Thursday in Beijing with a pledge to fully play its unique role in healthcare, population resources and ecological protection.

Sang Guowei, standing chairman of the congress's presidium, delivered a work report at the opening ceremony on behalf of the party's 14th Central Committee.

Sang called on its members, mainly leading intellectuals in the fields listed above, to bring their professional advantages to full play.

The CPWDP members should engage more in deliberation and administration of state affairs, give advice and make more proposals, he said.

Also at the ceremony, Yu Zhengsheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, gave a congratulatory speech on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.

"The CPWDP boasts a glorious history and fine tradition and has gone through great hardships," Yu said.

The great revival of the Chinese nation needs the wisdom and power of people of all ethnic backgrounds, including the country's eight non-Communist parties and personages without party affiliation, he said.

Yu urged the CPWDP members to deeply learn the essence of the 18th CPC National Congress, further cooperate with the CPC and resolutely stick to the socialist road with Chinese characteristics.

He encouraged members to undertake thorough studies and offer proposals on medical reform and ecological protection.

Founded in August 1930 in Shanghai, the CPWDP had 125,600 members by September, 59 percent of whom are leading intellectuals in the fields of healthcare, population resources and ecological protection.

Under the multi-party cooperation system, which remains a major characteristic of China's political party system, the CPC and the non-Communist parties work together and supervise each other, instead of opposing each other.

The CPC rules the country and the non-Communist parties participate in state affairs according to law, instead of ruling the country in turn.

Official figures indicated that China's non-Communist parties had a total of more than 800,000 members as of the end of 2011, with more than 37,000 organs at community-based levels.