Differences stressed between China's NPC and western systems

BEIJING  -- Top Chinese legislator Wu Bangguo on Monday called on the country's lawmakers to maintain the correct political orientation, stressing the "essential differences" between the system of China's people's congresses and Western capitalist countries' system of political power.

Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), delivers a report on the work of the NPC Standing Committee during the second plenary meeting of the Second Session of the 11th NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 9, 2009. [Xinhua] more photos

Maintaining the correct political orientation is essential to the success of the work of the people's congresses, said Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), when delivering a work report of the committee at the annual NPC session.

The most fundamental aspect in maintaining the correct political orientation is to "organically integrate the leadership of the Party, the position of the people as the masters of the country and the rule of law," Wu noted, adding "the core" is to uphold the leadership of the Party.

"We must more fully recognize the essential differences between the system of people's congresses and Western capitalist countries' system of political power," Wu said.

"China's system of political parties is a system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), not a Western-style multiparty system," he said.

The system of the people's congresses is not a Western system with the separation of the three powers, Wu said.

Deputies to the people's congresses are broadly representative and they do not represent a single party or group as members of Western parliaments do. They exercise their lawful duties and powers collectively at meetings, rather than each deputy addressing problems directly and separately from other deputies, Wu added.

China must draw on the achievements of all cultures, including their political achievements, but shall "never simply copy the system of Western countries or introduce a system of multiple parties holding office in rotation, a system with the separation of the three powers or a bicameral system," Wu said.

• 窗口指導 window guidance
• 下崗再就業(yè) Re-employment after being laid off
• 登記失業(yè)率 registered unemployment rate

• 擴大內(nèi)需 propel/expand domestic demand
• 分組討論 panel discussion
• 城鄉(xiāng)差距 rural-urban divide
• 基本醫(yī)療保險 basic medical insurance
• 家電下鄉(xiāng)Home appliances going to the countryside
• more

• Experts have their say on financial crisis
• China not yet free of crisis fear
• Economist: Deficit no cause for alarm
• Crisis 'can bring China, US closer'
• China's growth significant for world
• more

• German media give full coverage to Premier's report
• Overseas press praise China's 8% economic growth
• German media: Economy tops agenda at NPC session
• From the foreign press
• World media keeps close watch on 'two sessions'
• more

• Corruption top issue for public
• China adopts Food Safety Law
• China's economic growth in 2009
• more