VII. The CPC Cooperates with Other Political Parties and Non-Affiliates in Governing the Country
In the exercise of state power, the CPC and the other eight political parties, together with non-affiliates, work together in unity. This is an important institutional element of China’s political party system. The CPC upholds equality, democratic consultation, and sincere cooperation to support other participants in jointly building state power at all levels of people’s congresses, governments and judicial organs.
The people’s congress is the authority through which the Chinese people exercise state power. It is also a major institution where members of the non-CPC political parties and non-affiliates play their role. Members of the non-CPC political parties and non-affiliates account for a certain percentage of the total numbers of deputies to people’s congresses, the standing committees of people’s congresses, and the special committees of people’s congresses at all levels.
Since the First Session of the 13th National People’s Congress in 2018, about 152,000 members of the non-CPC political parties and non-affiliates have served as deputies to people’s congresses at all levels. Among them, 6 have been vice chairpersons of the NPC Standing Committee, and 44 have been members of the NPC Standing Committee; 32 have been vice chairpersons of the standing committees of provincial people’s congresses, and 462 have been members of the standing committees of provincial people’s congresses; 364 have been vice chairpersons of the standing committees of municipal people’s congresses, and 2,585 have been members of the standing committees of municipal people’s congresses. They perform their duties as representatives of the people through their participation in:
• formulation and amendment of the Constitution, other state laws, and local statutes,
• election, appointment and dismissal of leading officials in state organs,
• review and approval of the central government’s reports on economic and social development plans and their implementation, and reports on state budgets and execution of budgets, and
• inspection of law enforcement.
During the above processes, they convey the will of the people, raise proposals, and make inquiries.
Members of the non-CPC political parties and non-affiliates take leading positions in government and judicial organs, fulfilling their duties and achieving notable results. Currently, 14 of these people are in leading positions in the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, or ministries, commissions, offices and bureaus directly under the State Council; 29 are vice provincial governors, vice chairpersons of autonomous regions or vice mayors of municipalities directly under the central government, and 380 are deputy heads of cities, prefectures, leagues or districts; 45 are vice presidents of provincial people’s courts or deputy procurators-general of provincial people’s procuratorates; and 345 are vice presidents of prefecture-level people’s courts or deputy procurators-general of prefecture-level people’s procuratorates. They have the power to give administrative orders, make decisions, and offer proposals on staff appointments and dismissals within the leadership responsibilities assigned to them.
The State Council and local governments value the role of the non-CPC political parties and non-affiliates. The State Council and local governments organize symposiums attended by leaders of non-CPC political parties and non-affiliates as necessary. The aim is to solicit their views on the draft government work reports to be submitted to people’s congresses for deliberation, on major policy measures, and on major construction projects to boost the economy and improve people’s wellbeing, and to brief them on the latest economic and social developments. In addition, they are invited to plenary meetings and special meetings held by the central and local governments as appropriate, as well as special inspections organized by the central and local governments on an ad hoc basis.
