'People's democracy' is the core of nation's politics

China's "whole process people's democracy" not only has a complete institutional procedure, but also emphasizes participation, a spokesman for the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress told a news conference on Friday.

Speaking one day ahead of the opening of the NPC's annual session, Zhang Yesui said whole process people's democracy consists of two parts: "whole process" and "people's democracy". "People's democracy" is the essence and core of socialist democratic politics. The Chinese Constitution stipulates that all the powers of the State belong to the people, who manage State affairs, economic and cultural undertakings and social affairs through various channels and forms. Meanwhile, "whole process" means that all the people participate in democratic elections, consultations, decision making, management and supervision to ensure that "the people are the masters of their country", he added.

China has formed a comprehensive and extensive institutional system, with the people running the country, as well as a well-rounded socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics, with the Constitution at its core, providing a solid institutional and legal foundation for the development of whole process people's democracy, he added.

Zhang said the People's Congress System is an important institutional vehicle for realizing whole process people's democracy, and people's congresses at all levels assume important responsibilities in this process. Those responsibilities include expanding the people's political participation, strengthening the protection of human rights and the rule of law, and ensuring that people fully enjoy their rights and freedoms.

He also noted that it is necessary to improve the NPC's platforms for the expression of democratic public opinion, which should also serve as a solid foundation for government work.

"Democracy is not an ornament, not for decoration, but to solve people's problems. Whether a country is democratic or not, practice is the most convincing indicator and the people have the biggest say," he said.

He added that there are no identical democratic systems or one-size-fits-all modes of democracy. The democratic political system of socialism with Chinese characteristics is a real and effective democracy rooted in Chinese history and culture, in line with China's national conditions and is able to solve Chinese problems.

The views don't necessarily reflect those of Qiushi Journal.