- The Chinese model of democracy also unites all political parties and people
As China’s leadership is meeting at two very important sessions of the country’s two top legislative and advisory organs – National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) – to take key decisions on deepening structural, developmental and economic reforms besides election of the top future leadership of the country, observers across the globe are closely watching for their selective takeaways out of the both sessions.
Both the assemblies, commonly known as ‘two sessions’, meet once a year and hold extensive and detailed discussions and thrash yearly and five-yearly plans for the country. While the 13th NPC opened its first session on March 5, the 13th CPPCC commenced its opening sitting on March 3 and was addressed by President Xi Jinping, who is also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
The Chinese model of democracy is new for the world as it combines Marxist political party theories with China’s reality, and in the long term, it represents fundamental interests of all people and all ethnic groups and fulfills their aspirations, avoiding the defects of the old-fashioned party system which represents only a selective few or vested interest.
The Chinese model of democracy also unites all political parties and people without party affiliation toward a common goal, effectively preventing the flaws of the absence of oversight in one-party rule, or power rotation and nasty competition among multiple political parties.
The Chinese system also pools ideas and suggestions through institutional, procedural, and standardised arrangements and develops a scientific and democratic decision making mechanism. It steers away from another weakness of the old-fashioned party system, in which decision making and governance, confined by interests of different political parties, classes, regions and groups, tear the society apart.
The CPC-led system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation stresses both the CPC leadership and socialist democracy which features political consultation, participation in the deliberation of state affairs, and democratic supervision.
Both the annual sessions of China’s top legislative and advisory bodies are of particular importance this year, as the country has officially announced its entry into a ‘new era’. The two sessions will be the first annual sessions opened under the guidance of ‘President Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era’.
The thought, which was set at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) last October, has become the guideline for China’s new development.
One of the most important issues of the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress is the election of state leadership, including the Chinese president. China’s current president, Xi Jinping, was elected to the post at the first session of the 12th NPC five years ago.
Moreover, the sessions also elect the new vice president, vice prime ministers, new heads of the NPPCC, the NPC and new ministers.
A new anti-corruption model is about to be introduced as China is spearheading a pilot reform of supervisory systems, with supervisory commissions being established at provincial, city, and county levels. Sharing offices and staff with CPC discipline inspectors, the new commissions will incorporate existing supervisory, corruption prevention and control agencies within government and procuratorates. With a complete supervisory network over all state functionaries under the Party’s leadership, China is about to create a new anti-corruption model.
Analysts believe the economic growth target of China this year will be somewhat at par with that of last year. But the growth, among the fastest in the world, cannot change the fact that China is still a developing country, given that its per capita GDP lags far behind that of developed countries.
The Chinese model of democracy is new for the world as it combines Marxist political party theories with China’s reality, and in the long term, it represents fundamental interests of all people and all ethnic groups and fulfills their aspirations
China aims to eliminate absolute poverty by 2020 before becoming a moderately prosperous society. China has lifted 68.53 million people out of poverty over the past five years, which is equivalent to an annual reduction of at least 13 million.
The country’s poverty rate dropped from 10.2 percent in 2012 to 3.1 percent in 2017. Despite this progress, there were around 30 million Chinese living below the national poverty line at the end of last year.
Major theoretical achievements, principles, and policies adopted at the 19th CPC National Congress are to be incorporated into the upcoming revision to the Constitution, so as to keep pace with the times and improve the Constitution while maintaining its consistency, stability and authority since it was last amended in 2004.
After decades of reform and opening up, Chinese people’s lives are getting better. The country is expected to make new historical strides in 2018 as the country marks 40 years of reform and opening-up to the world.
China champions the development of a community with a shared future for humanity, and has encouraged the evolution of the global governance system. The Belt and Road Initiative, part of China’s efforts to boost the development of such a community, may continue to be a hot topic at the annual sessions and new measures may be formed.
A stronger social security system will not only improve the well-being of the Chinese people, but also boost individual consumption and reduce the dependence of China’s economic growth on exports.
The issues that concern the people most — education, jobs, healthcare, social security and order — would be properly dealt with to let the people feel richer, happier, and safer. New policies concerning the people’s livelihood may be released.
China’s economic planner, He Lifeng, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, has expressed confidence in achieving the 6.5 percent annual growth target on as domestic consumption is expected to become a stronger force driving economic development.
China’s economy expanded 6.9 percent year on year in 2017, picking up for the first time in seven years, well above the government target of around 6.5 percent.
The 6.5 percent growth target set in this year’s Government Work Report is “attainable” through hard work, said the economic wizard, citing China’s economic momentum, resilience, sustainability and market potential.
With further development in emerging industries and modern services, consumption is likely to contribute around 60 percent to economic growth in 2018. In 2017, consumption contributed 58.8 percent to growth, nearly four percentage points higher than five years ago.
Investment will contribute one third to this year’s growth as China will also push forward investment, especially on the real economy.
Through efforts like hosting the first China International Import Expo this year, China is determined to open wider to the world and increase consumption of its fast-growing middle-income group.
China has slashed over 50 million tonnes of ineffective steel capacity and 250 million tonnes of coal last year, both outperforming annual targets.
China pledged to pull another 10 million people out of dire poverty this year and promised to adopt targeted measures against corruption and misconduct in the poverty relief sector.
The 2018 goal of 10 million people includes 2.8 million who are to be relocated from inhospitable areas. Poverty alleviation efforts will be carried out by developing local industries, education and healthcare.
In the most recent five-year period, China’s impoverished population － which stood at more than 98 million at the end of 2012 － was cut by two-thirds, the best performance in the country’s history of poverty reduction.
The country has set a goal to complete the building of a “moderately prosperous society” in all respects by 2020, which requires the eradication of extreme poverty.
The current poverty line in China is net annual income of 2,300 yuan ($362) in real terms in 2010.
China plans to do more to support poor areas, and the national budget’s newly enlarged pool of poverty reduction funds and related investments will be weighted toward those areas.
China aims at tailoring anti-poverty measures to individuals and households to ensure that those most vulnerable to poverty, including the elderly, people with disabilities and people with serious diseases, receive the assistance they need.
Those who have fallen into poverty more recently, and those who slip back into poverty, will receive prompt support. Targeted measures against corruption and misconduct in poverty alleviation are also in the offing.
Hence, China’s two sessions reflect the five-year future vision of Chinese political leadership and the social, economic and developmental trajectory of China. Being the host nation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) – the flagship project of China’s Belt and Road vision – Pakistan needs to get ready for fast changes taking place in its neighbourhood to better benefit from the trans-regional and cross continental connectivity, development and trade.
