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The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) conveyed a clear message that the CPC will stick to its chosen path. The political and economic systems underlying China’s ascent will be crucial to the future progress of the world’s most populous nation, said Xie Chuntao, a professor with the Party School of the CPC Central Committee and editor of the recent bestseller Governing China: How the CPC Works, in an interview with Beijing Review. Excerpts follow:
Beijing Review: What are the main messages from General Secretary Hu Jintao’s report at the 18th CPC National Congress? Xie Chuntao: In my view, it delivers four messages. First, the CPC is fully aware of the challenges it faces. When reviewing the past 10 years since the 16th CPC National Congress, Hu dwelled upon problems such as income gaps and the corruption of government officials, while only briefly mentioning the achievements. Second, the report shows the CPC’s confidence about socialism with Chinese characteristics, a theory that has made it possible for China to achieve rapid development over the past three decades. Third, the CPC is determined to follow this theory in the years to come. It will neither return to the practice of self-isolation nor abandon socialism to take an erroneous path. Fourth, the CPC will tackle difficult problems with a pioneering spirit. As it works to accomplish the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020, it will focus on tasks such as deepening reforms, changing China’s growth model and protecting the environment.
How will the CPC carry out political restructuring in China in the years ahead?
The CPC will not conduct political reforms based on Western standards. Instead it will implement a wide range of reforms while upholding China’s basic political systems such as the people’s congress system and the system of CPC-led multi-party cooperation and political consultation. For instance, apart from improving democratic elections, the CPC will continue to underline the importance of democratic consultation through which different social groups and political parties forge consensus. Since it has put in place a socialist legal system, China is stepping up efforts to ensure judicial impartiality and safeguarding citizens’ lawful rights. Under the leadership of the CPC, it will also improve the self-governance systems of rural villages and urban communities. Moreover, the CPC and the government will put officials under stricter scrutiny to prevent corruption.
Why is a “socialist market economy” essential to China’s growing prosperity in recent decades?
Unlike other market economic models, China’s socialist market economy emphasizes state planning and the pursuit of equity. Since the invisible hand of the market does not always work well, the government’s visible hand is needed.
The CPC and the Chinese Government see great value in regulating the market with economic, legal and administrative tools to ensure its healthy development. While many other economies bore the brunt of the devastating global financial crisis, China’s socialist market system has shown great resilience as China pools resources across the country to cope with the crisis. The system combines the advantages of China’s political system with those of a competitive market economy.
Western media often question the legitimacy of the CPC’s leadership in China. What is your opinion?
The CPC acquired legitimacy as the ruling party of China as it led the Chinese people in founding the People’s Republic of China. With the passage of time, however, political dividends brought about by revolution are disappearing. Now the CPC has come to recognize the pressing need to seek new sources of legitimacy. People supported and participated in the Chinese communist revolution because the CPC promised a new society where everybody lives a happy life. After the revolution, hopes were high for the Party to honor its promise.
Since it came to power in 1949, especially since it adopted the reform and opening-up policy in 1978, the CPC has pushed for allround economic, political, cultural and social development in China. It has set a series of goals, including realizing modernization and building a moderately prosperous society. As it keeps advancing toward these goals, its leadership position has strengthened.
How has the CPC’s governance concept evolved since the reform and opening-up program started?
New social strata with diverse interests emerged in China following the advent of reforms. In this context, Jiang Zemin, former General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, introduced the notion that the CPC must represent the development trend of China’s advanced productive forces, the orientation of China’s advanced culture and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of Chinese people. In keeping with these principles, the CPC began to admit qualified members from various social strata other than only the working class. With this theoretical breakthrough, the CPC solved the hotly contested problem whether it would allow private entrepreneurs to join its ranks.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, China has been confronted with new problems as its reform and opening up drive progress. For instance, China’s innovation capacity remains weak. While the wealth divide continues to widen, the development of rural areas lags be- hind. China faces an uphill battle to narrow gaps between urban and rural areas and between different regions. Moreover, political restructuring has to be deepened because efforts to improve democracy and the legal system still fall short of the requirements to expand democracy and promote economic and social development. Against this backdrop, Hu put forward the political theory known as the Scientific Outlook on Development. While giving priority to socioeconomic development, the concept advocates the consideration of overall interests with a people-first approach as well as comprehensive, balanced and sustainable growth.
How does the CPC provide leadership for China?
Under China’s political system, the government is elected by and responsible for the people’s congress. It is an administrative body that reports to and is supervised by the people’s congress.
As the ruling party, the CPC is integrated into the people’s congress system while maintaining adequate separation. Integration is evident in that CPC committee leaders at various administrative levels usually chair standing committees of people’s congresses at the same levels. Also, CPC members constitute the majority of members of committees of people’s congresses and hold leadership posts in these committees. The CPC is therefore directly involved in legislative processes at various levels.
Separation requires the CPC not to make decisions on matters that fall under the mandate of the government. The CPC no longer issues orders or decrees to administrative bodies, enabling them to exercise administrative rights independently.
Under China’s multi-party cooperation and political consultation system, how does the CPC work together with other political parties?
Apart from the ruling CPC, there are eight other parties in China. The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference is the institution through which the CPC cooperates with and consults other parties as well as influential people without party affiliation. Since the beginning of the 21st century, they have put forth suggestions on important issues such as the development of west China, environmental protection, educational reform and the development of rural areas.
Governments and CPC committees at various levels have made it easy for noncommunist parties and people without party affiliation to supervise government and Party affairs. For instance, the CPC gives a briefing to non-communist parties on integrity promotion and anti-corruption efforts every year. Many local governments invite members of non-communist parties to take part in inspection and law enforcement campaigns.
More than 30,000 non-communist party members and people without party affiliation hold official posts at and above the county level. Wan Gang, Chairman of the Central Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party, is now minister of science and technology, and Chen Zhu, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, is minister of health. Most of China’s provinces have a vice governor that is not a member of the CPC.
Beijing Review: What are the main messages from General Secretary Hu Jintao’s report at the 18th CPC National Congress? Xie Chuntao: In my view, it delivers four messages. First, the CPC is fully aware of the challenges it faces. When reviewing the past 10 years since the 16th CPC National Congress, Hu dwelled upon problems such as income gaps and the corruption of government officials, while only briefly mentioning the achievements. Second, the report shows the CPC’s confidence about socialism with Chinese characteristics, a theory that has made it possible for China to achieve rapid development over the past three decades. Third, the CPC is determined to follow this theory in the years to come. It will neither return to the practice of self-isolation nor abandon socialism to take an erroneous path. Fourth, the CPC will tackle difficult problems with a pioneering spirit. As it works to accomplish the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020, it will focus on tasks such as deepening reforms, changing China’s growth model and protecting the environment.
How will the CPC carry out political restructuring in China in the years ahead?
The CPC will not conduct political reforms based on Western standards. Instead it will implement a wide range of reforms while upholding China’s basic political systems such as the people’s congress system and the system of CPC-led multi-party cooperation and political consultation. For instance, apart from improving democratic elections, the CPC will continue to underline the importance of democratic consultation through which different social groups and political parties forge consensus. Since it has put in place a socialist legal system, China is stepping up efforts to ensure judicial impartiality and safeguarding citizens’ lawful rights. Under the leadership of the CPC, it will also improve the self-governance systems of rural villages and urban communities. Moreover, the CPC and the government will put officials under stricter scrutiny to prevent corruption.
Why is a “socialist market economy” essential to China’s growing prosperity in recent decades?
Unlike other market economic models, China’s socialist market economy emphasizes state planning and the pursuit of equity. Since the invisible hand of the market does not always work well, the government’s visible hand is needed.
The CPC and the Chinese Government see great value in regulating the market with economic, legal and administrative tools to ensure its healthy development. While many other economies bore the brunt of the devastating global financial crisis, China’s socialist market system has shown great resilience as China pools resources across the country to cope with the crisis. The system combines the advantages of China’s political system with those of a competitive market economy.
Western media often question the legitimacy of the CPC’s leadership in China. What is your opinion?
The CPC acquired legitimacy as the ruling party of China as it led the Chinese people in founding the People’s Republic of China. With the passage of time, however, political dividends brought about by revolution are disappearing. Now the CPC has come to recognize the pressing need to seek new sources of legitimacy. People supported and participated in the Chinese communist revolution because the CPC promised a new society where everybody lives a happy life. After the revolution, hopes were high for the Party to honor its promise.
Since it came to power in 1949, especially since it adopted the reform and opening-up policy in 1978, the CPC has pushed for allround economic, political, cultural and social development in China. It has set a series of goals, including realizing modernization and building a moderately prosperous society. As it keeps advancing toward these goals, its leadership position has strengthened.
How has the CPC’s governance concept evolved since the reform and opening-up program started?
New social strata with diverse interests emerged in China following the advent of reforms. In this context, Jiang Zemin, former General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, introduced the notion that the CPC must represent the development trend of China’s advanced productive forces, the orientation of China’s advanced culture and the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of Chinese people. In keeping with these principles, the CPC began to admit qualified members from various social strata other than only the working class. With this theoretical breakthrough, the CPC solved the hotly contested problem whether it would allow private entrepreneurs to join its ranks.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, China has been confronted with new problems as its reform and opening up drive progress. For instance, China’s innovation capacity remains weak. While the wealth divide continues to widen, the development of rural areas lags be- hind. China faces an uphill battle to narrow gaps between urban and rural areas and between different regions. Moreover, political restructuring has to be deepened because efforts to improve democracy and the legal system still fall short of the requirements to expand democracy and promote economic and social development. Against this backdrop, Hu put forward the political theory known as the Scientific Outlook on Development. While giving priority to socioeconomic development, the concept advocates the consideration of overall interests with a people-first approach as well as comprehensive, balanced and sustainable growth.
How does the CPC provide leadership for China?
Under China’s political system, the government is elected by and responsible for the people’s congress. It is an administrative body that reports to and is supervised by the people’s congress.
As the ruling party, the CPC is integrated into the people’s congress system while maintaining adequate separation. Integration is evident in that CPC committee leaders at various administrative levels usually chair standing committees of people’s congresses at the same levels. Also, CPC members constitute the majority of members of committees of people’s congresses and hold leadership posts in these committees. The CPC is therefore directly involved in legislative processes at various levels.
Separation requires the CPC not to make decisions on matters that fall under the mandate of the government. The CPC no longer issues orders or decrees to administrative bodies, enabling them to exercise administrative rights independently.
Under China’s multi-party cooperation and political consultation system, how does the CPC work together with other political parties?
Apart from the ruling CPC, there are eight other parties in China. The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference is the institution through which the CPC cooperates with and consults other parties as well as influential people without party affiliation. Since the beginning of the 21st century, they have put forth suggestions on important issues such as the development of west China, environmental protection, educational reform and the development of rural areas.
Governments and CPC committees at various levels have made it easy for noncommunist parties and people without party affiliation to supervise government and Party affairs. For instance, the CPC gives a briefing to non-communist parties on integrity promotion and anti-corruption efforts every year. Many local governments invite members of non-communist parties to take part in inspection and law enforcement campaigns.
More than 30,000 non-communist party members and people without party affiliation hold official posts at and above the county level. Wan Gang, Chairman of the Central Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party, is now minister of science and technology, and Chen Zhu, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, is minister of health. Most of China’s provinces have a vice governor that is not a member of the CPC.