Earnestly Pursue the Development of Consultative Democracy

"Consultative democracy, as an important part of whole-process people's democracy, is a unique form and distinctive strength of China’s socialist democracy. It is an important embodiment of the CPC's mass line in the political domain." General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at a meeting celebrating the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on September 20, 2024. In his speech, Xi expounded on the function and role of consultative democracy and made clear requirements for fully developing consultative democracy.

There are diverse ways to realize democracy. Consultative democracy is an important form of democracy practiced under the leadership of the Communist of China (CPC). Focusing on major issues concerning reform, development and stability, as well as practical issues that affect people's immediate interests, extensive consultations are carried out among the people prior to decision-making and during the implementation of decisions, so as to reach the broadest possible consensus.

Over a long period of practice, China has established a complete framework for socialist consultative democracy underpinned by well-conceived procedures through which consultations are conducted among political parties, people's congresses, government departments, CPPCC committees, people's organizations, communities, and social organizations. In doing so, consultative democracy has been integrated into the whole process of Chinese socialist democracy.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, with a view to advancing socialist democracy and developing whole-process people's democracy, Xi Jinping has put forward a series of new ideas, new thinking and new strategies pertaining to developing consultative democracy. He stated that consultative democracy is an important institutional arrangement through which the CPC can lead the people in effectively governing the country and ensure that the people run the country; it is a form special to China's socialist democracy, representing a great invention of the CPC and the Chinese people. He emphasized that consultative democracy and electoral democracy complement and reinforce each other, constituting the institutional features and strengths of China's democratic system. He underscored the importance to develop various forms of consultation, so as to help bring about the broadest possible consensus on decisions and work, ensure that a broad range of interests and demands are considered in the decision-making process, help put in place extensive mechanisms for identifying and rectifying errors, allow wide public participation at all levels of management and governance, and enable to pool the wisdom and strength of the whole society to advance reform and development. In addition, Xi stressed that continuous efforts should be made to promote extensive, multilevel, and institutionalized development of consultative democracy and ensure the work is carried out in a well-conceived and more efficient manner.

The 20th CPC National Congress in 2022 proposed to fully develop consultative democracy and promote extensive, multilevel, and institutionalized development of consultative democracy. The Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee in 2024 emphasized that efforts should be made to improve the system of consultative democracy, expand more diverse forms of consultation, and strengthen coordination between various channels of consultation. 

At this meeting, focusing on developing consultative democracy, General Secretary Xi set forth specific arrangements and requirements. These included sticking to correct political direction; coordinating and improving the system of consultative democracy; refining the mechanisms for consultative democracy; expanding various forms and platforms for conducting consultations; and creating favorable atmosphere and conditions for consultative democracy. Drawing on past experience, these five aspects provide guidance for advancing consultative democracy, representing CPC's deeper understanding of the underlying laws governing the development of consultative democracy.

Editor: Wang Cuifang