Lianhe Zaobao:
I have two questions. The U.S. will convene a Summit for Democracy next week. Recently, China has also emphasized whole-process people's democracy, and it released a white paper titled "China: Democracy That Works" today. Some hold that China and the U.S. are now in a struggle to make their own voice heard about democracy. What's your opinion on this? My second question is, the CPC will convene its 20th national congress in the second half of next year, and a total of 2,300 delegates to the congress will be elected. Could you please brief on the composition of the delegates, such as the ratio of officials against grassroots representation or that of male versus female? Thank you.
Xu Lin:
Thank you for your questions. First, we always hold that democracy comes in many forms. There are many ways to achieve it, and the model that suits best is always the most appropriate. As I have just mentioned, China's whole-process people's democracy is a model of socialist democracy that covers all aspects of the democratic process and all sectors of society. It is true democracy that works. It is rooted in China's history and culture, and suited to the country's national conditions. With distinctive Chinese characteristics, it draws on the achievements of human civilization, exemplifies common values of humanity, enriches international politics, and contributes China's ideas and solutions to the development of democracy.
We always uphold that we should be open and inclusive and seek common ground while setting aside differences for different forms of democracy in different countries. As for the explorations and efforts in pursuit of democracy in different countries, we should respect them and draw on each other's experiences. That is true democracy. A handful of countries, adopting the hegemonic mindset that "whoever disagrees with me is wrong," treat other forms of democracy as undemocratic and even reject or suppress them. Those deeds are undemocratic themselves. Their models of democracy are notorious, and their own domestic governance is a mess, but they dictate to others and hurl abuses at others' models of democracy. Does this conform to their so-called democracy?
The U.S. proclaims itself "leader of democracy" and organizes and maneuvers a so-called "Summit for Democracy." But in fact, it just wants to suppress and contain countries with different social systems and development modes in the disguise of democracy. The deeds of being against democracy with the name of fake democracy are doomed to be a joke in the development of democracy and would not get any support.
As for your second question, next year, the CPC will convene its 20th national congress. Recently, the CPC Central Committee released a circular on the election of delegates to the Party's 20th national congress. Officials of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee were interviewed by Xinhua News Agency on the related issues. Here, I would like to give you a more detailed introduction.
According to the CPC Central Committee, a total of 2,300 delegates will be elected to the Party's 20th national congress. The quota for the number of delegates is mainly determined by the number of Party organizations and the number of Party members, while taking into account such factors as the number of delegates to the previous national congresses.
The CPC Central Committee stresses guaranteeing the proportion of delegates from frontline work and production. Among delegates representing provincial level regions, the central financial sector, and Beijing-based centrally-administered enterprises, Party members from the front line should account for at least one-third of the total while those at various leadership posts should not exceed two-thirds of the total. Female Party members should account for a certain proportion of the delegates. The proportion of female delegates from a provincial level region should be higher than that of female Party members in the total number of Party members in the region. There should be a certain number of female delegates from the central and state organs, the central financial sector, Beijing-based centrally-administered enterprises, the People's Liberation Army, and the People's Armed Police Force. These fully embody democracy within the Party and extensive representation, which will enable delegates to the Party's 20th national congress to better represent and reflect the will of Party members from all walks of life and sectors. Thank you.
