The Chinese characters for democracy were among the most extensively used in Party General Secretary Hu Jintao's keynote speech yesterday. He gave his remarks at the National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The phrase was used at least 60 times in relation to three areas of democratic governance.
China will first "expand people's democracy and ensure that the people are the masters of the country," Hu told more than 2,000 delegates to the congress, telecast live by national TV and radio networks.
Hu also said the CPC will "expand intra-Party democracy to develop people's democracy" by increasing transparency in Party affairs and "opposing and preventing arbitrary decision-making by an individual or a minority of the people".
According to Hu, China needs to improve institutions of democracy, diversify its forms and expand its channels to guarantee people's rights to information and participation.
Saying that the people are the masters of the country, Hu proposed that both urban and rural areas gradually adopt the same ratio of deputies to be elected to the people's congresses.
To ensure "scientific and democratic decision-making", Hu called for improving the information and intellectual support for the decision-making process. He also called for increasing transparency and expanding public participation in the decision-making process.
He said, "In principle, public hearings must be held for the formulation of laws, regulations and policies that bear closely on the interests of the public."
Second, in the area of enhancing intra-Party democracy, Hu called on Party organizations at all levels and all Party members to "take the lead in upholding the authority of the Constitution and the law".
The Party will strictly implement democratic centralism, improve the system that combines collective leadership with division of responsibilities among individuals, he said.
"Local Party committees will adopt a voting system in discussing and deciding on major issues and appointing cadres to important positions," he said.
Hu also vowed to gradually extend the direct election of leading members in primary Party organizations, and explore various ways to expand intra-Party democracy at the primary level.
Finally, Hu also promised to accelerate the separation of the functions of government from those of enterprises, State asset management authorities, public institutions and market-based intermediaries.
He vowed to standardize administrative practices, strengthen administrative law-enforcement agencies, standardize and reduce the number of matters requiring administrative examination and approval, and reduce government intervention in microeconomic operations.
Hu also called for the improvement of the mechanism of restraint and supervision, stressing that "power must be exercised in the sunshine to ensure that it is exercised correctly".
Questions:
1. What was the first area of democracy changes Hu mentioned?
2. What was the second area of democracy Hu discussed?
3. What was the third area of democracy changes Hu discussed?
Answers:
1. The people’s democracy.
2. Intra-Party democracy.
3. Functions of government from those of enterprises.
（英語點津 Celene 編輯）
About the broadcaster:
Jonathan Stewart is a media and journalism expert from the United States with four years of experience as a writer and instructor. He accepted a foreign expert position with chinadaily.com.cn in June 2007 following the completion of his Master of Arts degree in International Relations and Comparative Politics.
