THE GREATHALL-MARK OF DEMOCRACY
A draft amendment to the Organic Law of the Local People's Congresses and Local People's Governments is on the tables of the national legislators and political advisors at the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing where the "two sessions" are being convened.
Whole-process people's democracy is expected to be incorporated into the law stipulating the organization and operation of local legislatures and governments to ensure the multi-layered and all-round democracy affecting 1.4 billion people exerts its strength.
The annual gatherings of the NPC and the National Committee of the CPPCC bring together thousands of national legislators and political advisors, including Chinese leaders, to engage in in-depth discussions on major national development plans and assess important issues involving people's livelihood.
On this platform of China's highest state power, New China's first Constitution was introduced, an end to a 2,000-year-old agricultural tax was declared, the country's first-ever Civil Code dedicated to "maximum protection of people's rights" was adopted, and the foreign investment law, which aims to create a level playing field where all investors home and abroad can participate and compete, was passed.
The NPC deputies have been exercising state power and turning the Party's propositions and the will of the people into the will of the state and collective action after going through legal procedures, highlighting the integration of the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the people's status as masters of the country, and law-based governance.
The democratic system that China operates has enabled the vast country to achieve rapid economic development and long-term social stability over the years.
Today China has the world's largest social security system, has successfully eliminated absolute poverty, achieved an overwhelming victory in the fight against corruption and enhanced national security on all fronts. Its GDP has surpassed 100 trillion yuan, with the per capita GDP exceeding 10,000 U.S. dollars.
Paul Tembe, a South African sinologist, noted that China's whole-process people's democracy serves common interests and is associated with good governance.
In a richly diverse world, democracy comes in many forms. The whole-process people's democracy offers a new choice for the political advancement of humanity.
Mao Zhenfang, an NPC deputy from Yuangen, a village in Sichuan's Ya'an City, brought with her a suggestion on improving rural old-age services at this year's NPC session, based on extensive consultation with elderly rural residents like Li Chaolan.
"Democracy is about creating means to make every voice heard," said Mao.
