“Chinese party system, towards a paradigm shift”
Press Release 26 February 2019
“The Chinese political system is switching over to a new paradigm of party system with non oppositional parties being allowed to participate in the management of state affairs,” says Professor Zang Xiuling, Executive Deputy Director, Institute of Party Studies, Shandong University (SDU). Prof Zang was speaking at the International Symposium on “Contemporary China” organised by the Institute for Contemporary Chinese Studies (ICCS) and the School of International Relations and Politics (SIRP) of Mahatma Gandhi University today. Prof Zang said that though the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the ruling dispensation, the new paradigm allows non ruling parties to function positively which is “a new innovation that keeps with time.” She said that it enables the government to meet the actual needs of the party politics which is marked by the three characteristics of “leadership, cooperation and consultation.”
Professor Cui Guitian, Chief Delegate and Director of Institute of Contemporary Socialism, SDU said that the reform process in China has entered into “the deeper water zone” and the “new normal economy” is addressing the issues of “value integration, the widening income gap and corruption.” He said that the people’s desire for a better life and higher requirements need to be addressed within the framework of “democracy, rule of law, justice and safety of environment.” The main aim of the system is “political development of socialism with Chinese characteristics” and the “party governance should be people-oriented and people-centric,” he added.
Zhao Ting, Associate Professor, Institute of Contemporary Socialism, SDU noted that the new China is in its mission to “transform lax and weak governance.” The construction of the party’s style of work is “take out tigers, swat flies and hunt down foxes” by promoting intra-party democracy, she said. Dr. Li Jishi, Deputy Dean, School of Political Science and Public Administration, SDU argued that there is no fundamental contradiction between socialism and market economy as far as China is concerned.”
According to Prof Wang Hongsheng, Department of History, Peking University, under the leadership of Mao and Gandhi, a large number of intellectual elites had embarked on the revolutionary road of combining workers with peasants and changing society and themselves. He said the “spiritual heritage” of Gandhi and Mao was so important in making the relationship between the elites and masses possible.”
Prof Yang Luhui, Director of the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, SDU, Professor Zang Xiuling, Executive Deputy Director, Institute of Party Studies, SDU, Jiang Rui , Deputy Director and Professor, Institute of Contemporary Socialism, SDU and others spoke at the symposium.
Dr. C.Vinodan, Director, ICCS welcomed and Prof. A.M. Thomas, Director, SIRP chaired the session. Dr. Santhosh Thampi, Member Syndicate, Dr. K.M. Seethi, Dean of Social Sciences and others spoke at the symposium. Gokul proposed a vote of thanks.
