INP
\nBEIJING
\nBeing open to advice and criticism from the Chinese People\u2019s Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body, can help the central government make the right decisions and ensure the country\u2019s development stays on the right track, experts said following a speech by President Xi Jinping on Friday.
\nXi called for giving full play to the system of democratic centralism, promoting expression and exchanges of differing ideas and opinions and improving the mechanism to ensure consultation \u2014 both before and during the decision-making process.
\nXi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark on Friday in Beijing at the Central Conference on CPPCC Work, which marked the 70th anniversary of the consultative body.
\nZhu Lijia, a professor of public administration at the National Academy of Governance, said, \u201cChina has entered an era in which an increasing number of social problems and conflicts have surfaced because of its fast development. So receiving advice from other political parties, people without party affiliation, people\u2019s organizations and all ethnic groups and all walks of life is important. They can use their expertise to see solutions to problems from a different angle, not just the Party\u2019s.\u201d
\nSuch advice \u2014 and even criticism \u2014 is crucial in ensuring that China\u2019s development stays on the right path, Zhu added.
\nXi said at the conference that being open to advice and criticism, as well as making improvements in the work, show confidence and capability. As long as different parties of the CPPCC uphold the fundamental theory, path and strategy of the Party, they should be encouraged to speak their opinions, even harshly and fiercely at times, he said.
\nThe Party should be delighted to hear criticisms and correct mistakes if there are any, as well as to guard against introducing errors, Xi added.
\nFan Peng, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences\u2019 Institute of Political Sciences, said, \u201cSocialist consultative democracy allows the central government to respect the diversity of Chinese society as it promotes exchanges between different political parties and all walks of life.
\n\u201cMore important, it encourages people to offer their advice on the Party and the country\u2019s key tasks, so people with different backgrounds can be on the same page when it comes to China\u2019s development path.\u201d
\nXi said at the conference that the CPPCC needs to guide its members from Hong Kong and Macao to support the law-based administration of the special administrative regions\u2019 governments and chief executives.
\nZhu, the public administration professor, said such support is important for Hong Kong, even when there is no conflict.
\n\u201cCPPCC members can do more to unite the Hong Kong people to fully implement the \u2018one country, two systems\u2019 policy,\u201d Zhu said.
\nSamuel Yung Wing-ki, a CPPCC National Committee member from Hong Kong, said on Sunday that it\u2019s necessary to strengthen the patriotism that reflects love of both the country and the city. That\u2019s the way to maintain the SAR\u2019s prosperity and stability in the long run, Yung said.
\nTo achieve that, he encouraged CPPCC members from the region to extensively engage people from various backgrounds, especially young people, and brief them about the nation\u2019s latest developments and the opportunities made possible by major national strategies. This will buttress people\u2019s national identity, as well as their recognition of the country, he said.
\nYung said it is a basic requirement for CPPCC members to support the SAR government.
\nLau Siu-kai, vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, a think tank, said that Hong Kong\u2019s recent social unrest shows that patriotism needs to be enhanced and expanded in society. Hong Kong members of the CPPCC should play a greater role in the region\u2019s political arena and serve as a bridge between the Chinese mainland and the SAR, he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
INP BEIJING Being open to advice and criticism from the Chinese People\u2019s Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body, can help the central government make the right decisions and ensure the country\u2019s development stays on the right track, experts said following a speech by President Xi Jinping on Friday. Xi called for giving full […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-84476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n