Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League (TSL), one of China's
eight democratic parties, opened its 8th all-league congress on
Wednesday.
Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the
Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central
Committee, met the delegates of the congress on behalf of the CPC
Central Committee.
This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of the
TSL.
"The TSL has acted as a close partner of the CPC and an
important force to build socialism with Chinese characteristics,
promote the unification of the country and realize the revival of
the Chinese people," he said.
At its 17th National Congress in October, the CPC stressed the
need to improve cooperation with the democratic parties, support
them and people without party affiliation to better advise on state
affairs and supervise the work of the CPC, Li said.
It also promised to recruit more members from democratic parties
into government departments, he said.
"With the policies set at the CPC 17th National Congress, the
democratic parties will enjoy a favorable environment to
participate in state affairs," he said.
The TSL was founded in Hong Kong on Nov. 12, 1947 by a number of
Taiwan personages engaged in patriotic campaigns after the Feb. 28
Uprising of the Taiwan people that year. The party is composed of
people from Taiwan with a membership of over 2,100.
"It is a dream shared by all Chinese to solve the Taiwan issue
and realize the unification of the motherland," Li said.
The CPC hopes that the TSL members will take full advantage of
their close connections with Taiwan people to promote the exchanges
of people and direct links of mail, transport and trade across the
Taiwan Strait, he said, "The TSL shall contribute more to the
peaceful development across the Strait through research on Taiwan
issues and communications with the people there."
Lin Wenyi, chairwoman of the TSL, said, "The TSL will stick to
the Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of 'Three
Represents', adhere to the principal of Scientific Outlook on
Development and work hard to close the relations and improve mutual
trust across the Taiwan Strait."
Jiang Zhenghua, chairman of the Chinese Peasants and Workers
Democratic Party (CPWDP), addressed the congress on behalf of other
democratic parties, saying that they believe the TSL 8th all-league
congress will bring the party work and its partnership with the CPC
to a new stage.
At the 8th all-league congress, TSL will select its new league
central committee and discuss a draft amendment to the TCL's
Constitution.
The Information Office of the State Council of China issued on
Nov. 15 the country's first ever white paper on its political party
system.
China adopts a system of multi-party cooperation and political
consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China
(CPC), namely the multi-party cooperation system, says the white
paper titled China's Political Party System.
The multi-party cooperation system is a major manifestation of
socialist democracy of China and also one of China's fundamental
political system, the paper said.
"The leadership of the Communist Party of China and full
exercise of socialist democracy are the essential requirements of
the multi-party cooperation system," says the white paper.
An increasing number of non-Communists are holding posts in
government, legislature or judicial organs.
The most outstanding representatives are Wan Gang, Minister of
Science and Technology, and Chen Zhu, Minister of Health, who are
the first non-Communist cabinet appointments since the 1970s.
By the end of last year, 31,000 democratic party members and
people without party affiliation took government official posts at
and above the county level.
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(Xinhua News Agency November 29, 2007)