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Since the 18th CPC National Congress, what achievements have been made in China's political party system? What are the new measures and highlights with regards to the system? Thanks. 

Xu Yousheng:

I would like to invite Mr. Zhang to answer your questions.

Zhang Jian: 

Thanks for your questions. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, focusing on the requirements of upholding and improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has stepped up to strengthen the top-level design of the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC and made major headway in promoting innovation in areas of theory, policy, and practice. Regarding theoretical innovation, the CPC Central Committee has made it clear that the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC is included in the CPC's governance strategies and is the political party system in China. The CPC Central Committee has made it clear that the other political parties are participants in governance under the framework of socialism with Chinese characteristics and that their basic functions are to participate in the deliberation and administration of state affairs and to engage in democratic oversight and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC. Innovation in theory serves as the essential theoretical reasoning behind multiparty cooperation. 

On innovation in policy, since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee has formulated a series of documents on promoting socialist consultative democracy, reinforcing the role of the CPPCC, and improving the other political parties' participation in state governance, providing important policy support for the multiparty cooperation. 

On the innovation in the practice of multiparty cooperation, we have achieved much progress. I'd like to introduce three major aspects.  

First, political consultation. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, political consultation has become more standardized and orderly. According to statistics, since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council have organized or entrusted relevant departments to organize 172 consultative meetings and symposiums, 37 of which were presided over by General Secretary Xi Jinping. Discussions on strategic and overarching issues with regard to state affairs were held with the other political parties and prominent individuals without party affiliation (non-affiliates).

Second, participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs. In this respect, more targeted and effective measures were carried out. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the other political parties and non-affiliates have put forward a series of major opinions and suggestions with regard to implementing the new development philosophy, establishing a new development paradigm, achieving high-quality development, the Belt and Road construction, and coordinated development in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. According to statistics, there were more than 730 proposals, many of which have been adopted by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, making great contributions to scientific and democratic decision-making. 

Third, democratic oversight. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, new practices have been put in place to promote democratic oversight. In 2016, the CPC Central Committee entrusted the other eight political parties to pair with eight central and western provinces and autonomous regions to monitor their progress in fighting poverty over the next five years. These political parties presented a lot of opinions and suggestions, making a great contribution to securing victory in the campaign against poverty. 

Next, entrusted by the CPC Central Committee, the other political parties and non-affiliates will conduct democratic oversight on the ecological and environmental protection of the Yangtze River. Thanks.