The Ethical Essence of China’s New Type of Party System

Taking political parties as the main body to construct political systems and carry out political activities is the basic form of modern politics. The system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China is a great pioneering undertaking in which 20th-century China participated in shaping human political civilization, advanced its own modernization process, and provided a Chinese solution for modern world politics. On the one hand, this system is rooted in the excellent traditional Chinese culture, nurtured in the course of modern China’s democratic revolution, and has absorbed and drawn on the basic achievements of modern party politics; on the other hand, this system was formed in the practice of preparing for the founding of New China, developed in the process of socialist revolution, construction, and reform, and perfected in the New Era of socialism with Chinese characteristics. In this sense, it is a new type of party system based on China’s national conditions, an answer at the level of party politics to China’s modernization transformation and its exploration of a path.

以政党为主体来建构政治制度、开展政治活动，是现代政治的基本形态。中国共产党领导的多党合作和政治协商制度，是20世纪中国参与塑造人类政治文明，推进自身现代化进程，为世界现代政治提供中国方案的伟大创举。一方面，这项制度植根于中华优秀传统文化、孕育于近代中国民主革命历程，吸收和借鉴了现代政党政治的基本成果；另一方面，这项制度形成于筹建新中国的实践，发展于社会主义革命、建设和改革的过程，完善于中国特色社会主义新时代。在这个意义上，它是一项立足中国国情的新型政党制度，是在政党政治层面对中国现代化转型及其道路探索的回答。

The formation of China’s new type of party system has its historical circumstances and practical reasons. However, its continuation to the present day and its increasingly robust role in political life are closely related to the ethical principles or value appeals that this system has consistently upheld. These principles or appeals not only serve as binding conditions for the orderly development of this system but also constitute the ethical essence of its self-justification. The system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China was gradually shaped under the guidance of pursuing unity, realizing democracy, and promoting harmony, and it also integrates unity, democracy, and harmony into its own essence, forming its own ethical dimension, thereby adapting to China’s soil, solving China’s problems, and making it a Chinese solution distinct from other party systems.

中国新型政党制度的形成有其历史境遇和现实原因，然而，它延续至今并在政治生活中发挥日益强韧的作用，却跟这项制度一贯秉持的伦理原则或价值诉求密切相关。这些原则或诉求不仅充当这项制度有序发展的约束条件，而且构成这项制度自我证明的伦理本质。中国共产党领导的多党合作和政治协商制度，既在追求团结、实现民主、促进和谐的导向中逐步成型，也是通过将团结、民主、和谐融入自身本质，构成自身伦理向度，从而适应中国土壤，解决中国问题，使之成为区别于其他政党制度的中国方案。

I

一

As a product of modern politics, a political party is a political organization in which people from a certain social group who share common political will voluntarily unite, with the primary goal of obtaining political power. The emergence and composition of political parties inherently reflect the pluralistic pattern of social interests and their social foundations. This is especially true for a populous country like China, where there are different classes and social groups, as well as specific interest differences on the basis of fundamental consistency of interests. However, for a party system, the key lies not only in accommodating interest differences but, more importantly, in considering how to unite these differentiated social groups and their political organizations, enabling them to understand each other’s differences, seek consensus, and strive for unity.

作为现代政治的产物，政党是一定社会集团中有着共同政治意愿的人们自愿结合在一起、以取得政治权力为首要目标的政治组织。政党的产生和构成，本就是对社会利益及其社会基础的多元格局的反映。尤其是对中国这样一个人口大国来说，存在不同阶层和社会群体，也存在根本利益一致基础上的具体利益差别。然而，对于一项政党制度而言，关键却不仅在于容纳利益差异，更在于思考如何将这些具有差异的社会群体及其政治组织凝聚起来，从而让彼此理解差异，谋求共识，争取团结。

As a new type of party system based on China’s national conditions, the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China is a basic reflection of the interest pattern of contemporary Chinese political parties. General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that diversity is a reflection of multiple interests and diverse thoughts. The new type of party system in China recognizes that the Communist Party of China, as the vanguard of the Chinese working class, the vanguard of the Chinese people and the Chinese nation, represents the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people, which also includes representing the legitimate interests of groups such as the various democratic parties and personages without party affiliation, various people’s organizations, and patriotic personages from all walks of life. This system not only reflects the interest pattern of China’s current political parties in the broadest and most authentic way but also confirms and guarantees this pattern and its social foundation through institutional forms. Therefore, it can accommodate all parties, enabling all sectors of society to seek common ground while reserving differences, unite, and cooperate within a stable political framework.

作为一项立足中国国情的新型政党制度，中国共产党领导的多党合作和政治协商制度，是对当代中国各政党利益格局的基本反映。习近平总书记指出，多样性是利益多元、思想多样的反映。中国新型政党制度，承认中国共产党作为中国工人阶级的先锋队、中国人民和中华民族的先锋队，代表中国最广大人民的根本利益，其中也包含了代表各民主党派和无党派人士、各人民团体、各界爱国人士等群体的合法利益。这项制度不仅最广泛而且最真实地反映了现阶段中国各政党利益的格局，而且把这种格局及其社会基础通过制度形式加以确认和保障，所以，它才可以容纳各方，使社会各界在一个稳定的政治框架内求同存异，团结协作。

Acknowledging objective differences in interests is only the foundation for moving towards unity. What truly fosters unity requires mutual recognition at the level of beliefs and values. History has proven that achieving national independence, people’s liberation, national prosperity, and people’s happiness has been the urgent demand of the Chinese people since modern times. In the long process of revolution, construction, and reform, these have not only constituted the pursuit and mission of the Chinese Communists but also the origin and reason for the various democratic parties to step onto the political stage and choose to “treat each other with all sincerity and share weal and woe” [1]1 “Treat each other with all sincerity and share weal and woe” (肝胆相照、荣辱与共) is a standard phrase in CPC discourse describing the relationship between the CPC and the democratic parties, formally adopted as a principle in the 1982 constitution of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. with the Communist Party of China. It is precisely the shared belief in striving for the future of the Chinese nation and the well-being of the Chinese people that has enabled the Chinese Communists and the various democratic parties to support each other, face storms together, and interact with frankness. In this sense, the effectiveness and enduring vitality of China’s new type of party system lie precisely in its response to China’s historical trends and the aspirations of the people, and its ability to gather and unite all positive forces that conform to history and the people’s will.

承认利益的客观差异，只是迈向团结的基础。真正促成团结的，还需信念与价值层面的相互认同。历史证明，实现民族独立、人民解放和国家富强、人民幸福，是近现代以来中国人民的迫切要求。在长期的革命、建设和改革过程中，它们不仅构成中国共产党人的追求和使命，也是各民主党派走上政治舞台并选择与中国共产党“肝胆相照、荣辱与共”的缘起和理由。正是对中华民族的未来和中国人民的福祉有着一种共同的奋斗信念，使得中国共产党人与各民主党派彼此支援，无惧风雨，坦诚相交。在这个意义上，中国新型政党制度行之有效、历久弥新，恰恰在于它呼应着中国的历史趋势和人心所向，并能将所有顺应历史与人心的积极力量凝聚起来，团结起来。

II

二

Differences in interests call for unity; common goals promote unity. However, the united parties do not merely express mutual sincerity or recognition; more importantly, they aim to discuss common plans, take common actions, and realize common undertakings. This requires not only that the parties “sit together” but also “think together,” “discuss together,” and “work together.” To achieve this goal, the Communist Party of China must continuously improve its level of democratic governance.

利益的差异呼唤团结，共同的目标促成团结。然而，团结起来的各方不是只为了表达彼此的诚意或认可，更重要的，是为了探讨共同的规划，采取共同的行动，实现共同的事业。这不仅需要各党派“坐到一起”，更需要“想到一起”“谈到一起”“干到一起”。要实现这样的目标，中国共产党必须不断提高民主执政水平。

Democracy is necessary for modern society because, on the one hand, democracy can respect interest differences, acknowledge the rights and responsibilities of all parties, and accommodate stakeholders most broadly to participate together in political life; on the other hand, democracy can, through formal institutional arrangements, pool wisdom, enhance the scientific and rational nature of public decision-making, and bring benefits to the people. As an essential attribute of China’s new type of party system, democracy endows it with rich ethical legitimacy in its actual operation.

民主对于现代社会之所以必要，一方面是因为民主能够尊重利益差异，承认各方权责，最广泛地容纳利益相关者，共同参与政治生活；另一方面也是因为民主能够通过正式的制度安排，集思广益，提升公共决策的科学性与合理性，为民众带来福祉。作为中国新型政党制度的一项本质属性，民主使其在实际运作过程中获得丰厚的伦理正当性。

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: “Under the socialist system in China, when there are matters to discuss, it is good to discuss them; the affairs of the many are discussed by the many, finding the greatest common divisor of the entire society’s will and demands—this is the true essence of people’s democracy.” [2]2 This quotation is from Xi Jinping’s speech at the celebration of the 65th anniversary of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference in 2014. The system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, through the design of the overall system, extensively involves different groups at the level of party politics, absorbs viewpoints from all sides, reflects the will of all parties, and seeks the greatest common divisor. History and reality have proven that, because the social groups represented or contacted by each party have different emphases, the range and number of political participants that this system can accommodate are extremely considerable. Their equal participation helps political life achieve the breadth of interest representation and helps to take care of the reasonable demands of the minority while respecting the will of the majority.

习近平总书记指出：“在中国社会主义制度下，有事好商量，众人的事情由众人商量，找到全社会意愿和要求的最大公约数，是人民民主的真谛。”中国共产党领导的多党合作和政治协商制度，正是通过整体制度的设计，在政党政治层面广泛涉及不同群体，吸纳各方观点，体现各方意愿，以求最大公约数。历史和现实已经证明，由于其中各党派所代表或联系的社会群体各有侧重，因此，这项制度所能容纳的政治参与者范围与数量极为可观。他们的平等参与，有助于政治生活实现利益代表的广泛性，有助于在尊重多数人意愿的同时照顾少数人的合理诉求。

Moreover, the pursuit and adherence to democracy also enable all parties to leverage their respective advantages within the framework of this system, promote the scientific and precise nature of the decision-making process, ensure the effectiveness and beneficial nature of decision-making outcomes, and thereby comprehensively enhance the modernization level of the national governance system and governance capacity. Today, facing the changes unseen in a century in the world, the Chinese nation, on its journey towards the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, confronts many unprecedented tasks and issues. To accomplish these tasks and resolve these issues, it is necessary to fully promote democracy, stimulate the potential of all parties, enable them to understand the characteristics and requirements of different tasks or issues through full and frank consultation, and then implement scientific governance with professional solutions. In this regard, China’s new type of party system not only needs democracy to unite forces and gather people’s hearts but also needs democracy to make scientific decisions and reduce deviations.

不仅如此，对民主的追求和坚守，亦使各党派能够在这项制度框架内发挥各自优势，促进决策过程的科学性与精确性，保障决策效果的有效性与有益性，从而整体提升国家治理体系和治理能力的现代化水平。如今，面对世界百年未有之大变局，中华民族在实现伟大复兴的征程上面临着许多前所未见的任务和议题。要完成好这些任务，解决好这些议题，就必须充分发扬民主，激发各方潜能，使之在充分坦诚的协商过程中理解不同任务或议题的特征与要求，进而凭借专业方案实施科学治理。就此而言，中国新型政党制度不仅需要通过民主来团结力量，聚拢人心，更需要通过民主来科学决策、减少偏差。

III

三

China’s new type of party system is rooted in China’s soil. For the parties within it, this system requires them not only to maintain unity on the premise of seeking common ground while reserving differences and to practice democracy in the action of joint consultation and cooperation but also to form a stable and orderly harmonious relationship in the process of equal treatment and sincere cooperation. History has proven that the emergence and development of China’s new type of party system are fundamentally aimed at promoting the development of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

中国新型政党制度植根于中国土壤。对其中各党派，这项制度不仅要求它们在求同存异的前提下维系团结，在共商共事的行动中实行民主，而且要求它们在平等相待、真诚合作的过程中形成稳定有序的和谐关系。历史证明，中国新型政党制度的产生和发展，从根本上说是为了促进中国特色社会主义事业的发展。

On the one hand, the harmonious nature of China’s new type of party system is reflected in the long-standing orderly relationship between the Communist Party of China and the various democratic parties. According to China’s Constitution, the Communist Party of China holds the position of leadership and governance, while the various democratic parties and personages without party affiliation consciously accept the leadership of the Communist Party of China. At the same time, the various democratic parties and personages without party affiliation participate in the state power and the management of state affairs through forms such as participating in the formulation of major policies and guidelines, the revision of important laws and regulations, and the recommendation of important leadership candidates. The Communist Party of China, as the ruling party, and the various democratic parties, as participating parties, not only cooperate closely but also supervise each other, each fulfilling its role and performing its duties, jointly constructing a stable and harmonious political pattern in modern China.

一方面，中国新型政党制度的和谐性质，体现在中国共产党与各民主党派之间长期以来的有序关系中。根据我国宪法，中国共产党处于领导和执政地位，各民主党派、无党派人士自觉接受中国共产党的领导。同时，各民主党派和无党派人士又以参与重大方针政策制定、重要法律法规修订、重要领导人选建议等形式参加国家政权，参与国家事务的管理。作为执政党的中国共产党与作为参政党的各民主党派之间不仅亲密合作，而且相互监督，各安其位、各尽其职，共同构筑了现代中国稳定和谐的政治格局。

On the other hand, the harmonious character of China’s new type of party system is also embodied in the process of consultation between the Communist Party of China and the democratic parties on specific matters. Not only does the CPC solicit opinions from the democratic parties before and during decision-making, entrust them with conducting investigations and research on major economic and social issues, and collect and study the relevant materials provided by them, but also, after decisions are implemented, it listens to the democratic parties’ suggestions and opinions, supports them in carrying out regular investigations and research in light of their own characteristics, and supervises the implementation of decisions. In long-term political practice, China’s new type of party system has formed a set of stable and efficient consultation procedures. Apart from using the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) as an important political form and organizational form, this system relies more on daily practices such as meeting-based consultation, interview-based consultation, and written consultation to ensure smooth communication among the parties, thereby forming harmonious inter-party relations in concrete work and fostering a harmonious political atmosphere. [3]3 The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is a key political institution in China where the CPC and the democratic parties, as well as non-party personages, engage in political consultation and democratic supervision. It is not a legislative body but serves as an advisory and consultative platform.

另一方面，中国新型政党制度的和谐性质，还体现在中国共产党与各民主党派关于具体事务的协商过程中。中国共产党不仅会在决策之前和决策之中就有关事项征求民主党派意见，委托民主党派就经济社会重大问题开展考察调研，收集研判民主党派提供的相关材料，而且会在决策实施之后，听取民主党派的意见建议，支持其结合自身特色开展经常性调查研究，并对决策落实情况进行监督。在长期的政治实践中，中国新型政党制度形成了一套稳定、高效的协商程序。除了以人民政协作为重要的政治形式和组织形式，这项制度更多是通过日常的会议协商、约谈协商和书面协商等做法，保障各党派之间的顺畅沟通，从而在具体工作中形成和谐的政党关系，促成和谐的政治氛围。

Online editor: Paul

网络编辑：保罗