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 this principle, the CPC began to admit qualified members from social strata other than 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 progresses. For instance, China's innovation capacity remains weak. While the wealth divide continues to widen, the development of rural areas lags behind. 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 non-communist 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.

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