Since the founding of New China, the people of all ethnic groups in the country have united as one and achieved great victories in the new democratic revolution, socialist revolution and socialist construction, reform and opening up, and socialist modernization, and have explored a socialist development path that suits China's national conditions and has Chinese characteristics. On this path, upholding and improving the multi-party cooperation and political consultation system under the leadership of the Communist Party of China is an important institutional foundation for promoting the scientific development of China's political, economic and social sciences. It is a great contribution of the Chinese people represented by the Communist Party of China to human political civilization.

    一、   The development process of the multi-party cooperation and political consultation system led by the Communist Party of China

The multi-party cooperation system led by the Communist Party of China began during the Anti-Japanese War. The convening of the first Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference marked the formal formation of this system. After the founding of New China, the multi-party cooperation system has gradually matured and improved from a good start to twists and turns and then to development. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core has attached great importance to multi-party cooperation and the work of democratic parties, and has put forward a series of new ideas and new perspectives on upholding and improving my country's multi-party cooperation system. The development of multi-party cooperation has entered a new era. The functional role of socialist participating parties with Chinese characteristics has been fully exerted, and the party system with Chinese characteristics has played an increasingly important role in the country's political life.

(1) Smooth development at the beginning of the founding of the People’s Republic of China

The multi-party cooperation system under the leadership of the Communist Party of China can be traced back to the "three-three system" regime in the early 1940s. On April 30, 1948, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued the "May Day Slogan", which received active response and support from democratic parties and non-party personages, people's organizations and people of all ethnic groups and all walks of life. The promulgation of the "May Day Slogan" became the mobilization order for the establishment of the People's Political Consultative Conference and the establishment of New China[1]. From September 21 to 30, 1949, the first Political Consultative Conference was held, marking the formal establishment of the multi-party cooperation and political consultation system under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. At that time, the anti-imperialist, patriotic and democratic political programs of the democratic parties were basically consistent with the program of the new democratic stage of the Communist Party of China. The proposal of the Communist Party of China to establish a democratic coalition government and establish a new democratic country was approved and supported by all democratic parties. After the socialist transformation was basically completed in 1956, the Communist Party of China put forward the basic policy of party cooperation of "long-term coexistence and mutual supervision", laying a theoretical foundation for continued multi-party cooperation. It fundamentally solves the problem of the development prospects of democratic parties and further establishes the basic pattern of multi-party cooperation in our country under socialist conditions.

(2) The tortuous progress in ten years of catastrophe

In the second half of 1957, during the anti-rightist struggle of the Communist Party of China, some democratic parties were labeled as "bourgeois parties", which severely dampened the enthusiasm of democratic parties and cast a shadow over the development of multi-party cooperation and political consultation systems. In 1966, the "Cultural Revolution" civil strife hit the democratic parties again. Lin Biao and the "Gang of Four" undermined multi-party cooperation and slandered the democratic parties as reactionary organizations. As a result, organizations at all levels of the democratic parties were forced to cease activities and their membership dropped sharply. However, in the face of setbacks and tests, the democratic parties have not wavered in their belief in the leadership of the Communist Party of China and in adhering to the socialist road. This tortuous development has also further consolidated multi-party cooperation and promoted the improvement and development of multi-party cooperation.

(3) Comprehensive improvements since the reform and opening up

After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, China started reform and opening up and entered a new historical period. During this period, the multi-party cooperation system under the leadership of the Communist Party of China returned to the right track, was further developed and improved, and began to mature. The second-generation central leadership group with Comrade Deng Xiaoping as the core clearly stated that multi-party cooperation is a feature and advantage of China's political system. Upholding and improving the multi-party cooperation and political consultation system under the leadership of the Communist Party of China has become an important part of the theory and practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics. In 1982, the 12th National Congress of the Communist Party of China proposed a sixteen-character policy, which added "to treat each other with sincerity and share weal and woe" on the basis of "long-term coexistence and mutual supervision". Under the guidance of this policy, the work of democratic parties has been unprecedentedly active, and the focus of work has shifted to serving socialist modernization. After the Fourth Plenary Session of the 13th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the third-generation central leadership collective with Comrade Jiang Zemin as the core faced with the complex internal and external situation, further proposed the need to consolidate the political pattern of multi-party cooperation, formulated and promulgated the "Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Upholding and Improving the System of Multi-party Cooperation and Political Consultation led by the Communist Party of China", and wrote "The system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation led by the Communist Party of China will exist and develop for a long time" into the Constitution, promoting multi-party cooperation and political consultation to gradually embark on the track of institutionalization.

(4) New political party system in the new era

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, in response to the changes in the nature of democratic parties, the basic functions of democratic parties have also been expanded and extended. If since 1989, many documents promulgated in the name of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of my country have provided a solid institutional foundation for the development of multi-party cooperation in our country, then the "Regulations on the United Front Work of the Communist Party of China (Trial)" promulgated in 2015, as the first normative regulation on the united front work of the Communist Party of China, has provided strong political, organizational and legal guarantees for the work of the united front, including the work of democratic parties. The "Regulations" clearly state that the democratic parties are "close friendly parties that accept the leadership of the Communist Party of China and cooperate fully with the Communist Party of China, and are participating parties in socialism with Chinese characteristics." The proposal of "participating political parties in socialism with Chinese characteristics" and the new expansion of the basic functions of democratic parties more scientifically, comprehensively and accurately reflect the important role and value of democratic parties in our country's political system and political life, and are of great and far-reaching significance in promoting the development of multi-party cooperation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

二、   Basic experience of multi-party cooperation and political consultation system

The multi-party cooperation system has made brilliant achievements since its establishment 70 years ago, creating a new form of world party politics, creating new party relations, and creating a new form of democracy and governance. As the main body of multi-party cooperation in our country, all democratic parties have combined their own characteristics and advantages to conscientiously perform their functions as participating parties in socialism with Chinese characteristics. They have played a significant role in promoting the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The effectiveness of China's multi-party cooperation system has been greatly improved.

(1) Always adhere to the core position of the leadership of the Communist Party of China and the guidance of political theory with Chinese characteristics

Upholding the core leadership position of the Communist Party of China is the primary prerequisite and basic guarantee for realizing multi-party cooperation in China. The Communist Party of China is the core leadership of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and is the ruling party. Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, contemporary China's multi-party cooperation system has grown from scratch, from local to national level, from twists and turns to gradually mature and perfected, and has become increasingly progressive and vigorously developed. After long-term exploration and practice, all democratic parties and people's organizations have solemnly and consciously chosen and accepted the leadership of the Communist Party of China. Historical experience proves that without the leadership of the Communist Party of China, there would be no development of democratic parties and no good pattern of multi-party cooperation. Only by insisting on consciously accepting the leadership of the Communist Party of China, unswervingly following the path of political development of socialism with Chinese characteristics, maintaining close cooperation with the Communist Party of China, sharing weal and woe with one heart and one mind, treating each other with sincerity, and sharing weal and woe, can the democratic parties consciously and unitedly act. Only then will my country's multi-party cooperation cause have the right direction, vigorous vitality and bright future, and will the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics become more solid and broader.

Adopting the path of socialist development with Chinese characteristics is the foundation for China’s continuous growth and progress over the past seventy years. It is also of great significance to the improvement and development of China’s multi-party cooperation system. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, China's national conditions and social structure have undergone earth-shaking changes, and the international situation China faces is also undergoing rapid changes. In the face of emerging new problems, the Communist Party of China uses Marxism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory, the important thought of "Three Represents", the Scientific Outlook on Development and the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as guidance to enrich the theoretical basis of multi-party cooperation, and guide the practice of multi-party cooperation based on national conditions and social status quo in different periods. From the eight-character policy of "long-term coexistence and mutual supervision" to the sixteen-character policy of "long-term coexistence, mutual supervision, sincerity, and sharing weal and woe" to the construction of harmonious party relations, from the democratic parties transforming from "class alliances" to "political alliances" and "participating parties" committed to the cause of socialism, from the inclusion of the multi-party cooperation system in the scope of our country's political system to the inclusion in the national constitution, from the democratic parties to the proposal of "participating parties in socialism with Chinese characteristics". The pioneering proposal and development of these theories opened up a new situation for China's multi-party cooperation system, provided solid theoretical support for always upholding, developing and improving the multi-party cooperation system, and became a common ideological and political basis for consolidating the unity and struggle of the Communist Party and democratic parties.

(2) Strengthen the construction of the multi-party cooperation system and promote the steady and orderly development of the multi-party cooperation system

As a basic political system in China, the multi-party cooperation system is a political party system in line with China's national conditions and is also a major feature and advantage of China's political system. For a long time, the multi-party cooperation system has continued to develop, from being enshrined in the Constitution to becoming the will of the country, to issuing a series of important documents such as the "Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Further Strengthening the Construction of Multi-party Cooperation and Political Consultation System Led by the Communist Party of China" and the "Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Strengthening the Work of the People's Political Consultative Conference". From providing legal and institutional guarantees to providing theoretical basis and policy basis, the multi-party cooperation and political consultation system under the leadership of the Communist Party of China has gradually embarked on the track of institutionalization, standardization and procedure. By summarizing the practical experience of the multi-party cooperation system, starting from the requirements of democratic political construction and on the basis of existing systems and successful experiences, the Communist Party of China has continuously introduced new ones and formulated and promulgated many highly operational rules and regulations, which has effectively improved the institutional level of multi-party cooperation and political consultation, improved the effectiveness of participation in government deliberation and democratic supervision, and enabled the function and value of my country's multi-party cooperation system to be effectively brought into play.

(3) Strengthen the self-construction of participating parties and give full play to the role and advantages of multi-party cooperation

The long-term existence and development of China's multi-party cooperation is related to the consolidation and development of the socialist political system with Chinese characteristics. All parties must shoulder their respective missions. The improvement of the quality of democratic parties is not only related to their own development, but also an objective need for fulfilling the functions of participating political parties.

On the one hand, it is necessary to strengthen the ideological construction of democratic parties, enhance party awareness, and improve the ability to participate in and discuss politics. At present, socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era provides a broad stage for multi-party cooperation to play a better role. Democratic parties should conscientiously study and implement the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, firmly establish the "four consciousnesses", strengthen the "four self-confidences", and unify thoughts and actions with the major decisions and arrangements made by the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. up, unify it to the strategic deployment of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, find the entry point for fulfilling duties in serving the overall situation, focus on preventing and resolving major risks, targeted poverty alleviation, and pollution prevention and control, conduct in-depth investigations and research on the front line, put forward insights, and provide reference for the decision-making of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China[2]. On the other hand, it is necessary to strengthen the ideological, organizational, and institutional construction of democratic parties, especially the leadership team, establish and improve democratic centralism, democratic life meeting systems, and various decision-making systems, and strive to improve the "four abilities" of members of the leadership team of democratic parties, namely, the ability to grasp politics, the ability to participate in and discuss politics, the ability to organize and lead, and the ability to work together. We must give full play to the unique advantages and effects of multi-party cooperation and raise the construction of socialist political parties with Chinese characteristics to a new level. Guide members to correctly understand various difficulties and problems encountered in reform and development, assist in resolving conflicts, and create a good social environment for a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way.

(4) Maintain a relaxed, stable, united and harmonious political environment and take care of the interests of participating political parties

In multi-party cooperation, the Communist Party of China and the participating democratic parties will have consensus in terms of political stance and fundamental interests, but it is also inevitable that there will be different opinions and differences. The serious expansion of the anti-rightist struggle in 1957 and the civil strife of the "Cultural Revolution" in 1966 made it difficult for a large number of democratic parties to carry out normal activities, and the country also suffered huge losses. Since the reform and opening up, China's political environment has been greatly improved. The Communist Party of China and the democratic parties have adhered to the principles of seeking common ground while reserving differences, being considerate and inclusive, and has always maintained a loose, stable, united and harmonious situation. Multi-party cooperation has regained a vibrant situation. The democratic parties are united and stable, candidly make suggestions, and have unprecedented enthusiasm for participating in and discussing politics. Only by creating a more standardized, institutionalized and legalized multi-party cooperation system and creating a good environment for political participation and speech can the multi-party cooperation system develop healthily and steadily.

While maintaining a relaxed and stable political environment, the Communist Party of China, as the ruling party, should also take care of the interests of its allies in the democratic parties and help the democratic parties solve political remuneration, cadre remuneration and other working conditions issues. This is an important condition for mobilizing all democratic parties to move forward together. It is related to the recognition and confidence of leaders and members of democratic parties in adhering to multi-party cooperation, and is related to the external image of the construction of socialist democratic politics.

Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, China’s multi-party cooperation system has and will continue to show strong vitality and creativity. As the world pattern and national development continue to change, this system will play a greater role in promoting China's socialist democratic political construction and building a complete, harmonious and effective political system.

Author: Tu Xinquan, dean of the China WTO Research Institute at the w88 casino, non-partisan, and chairman of the Non-Party Intellectuals Association of the w88 casino.

References

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[2] Jia Qinglin. Continuously improve and develop the multi-party cooperation and political consultation system led by the Communist Party of China on the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics [J]. Qiushi, 2009(21):3-10.

[3] Pu Dongen. The development history and valuable experience of the multi-party cooperation system[J]. Qingjiang Forum, 2010(1):10-13.

[4] Yang Xueyan. Thoughts on strengthening the institutionalization, standardization and procedural construction of multi-party cooperation under the new situation [J]. Journal of Fujian University of Socialism, 2014(1):9-17.

[5] Yu Tianwu. Research on the sixty-year history and basic experience of the multi-party cooperation system [J]. Journal of Hubei University of Socialism, 2010(2):22-26.

[1]Jia Qinglin. Continuously improve and develop the multi-party cooperation and political consultation system led by the Communist Party of China on the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics [J]. Qiushi, 2009(21):3-10.

[2] People's Daily Online: Xi Jinping: Multi-party cooperation must have a new atmosphere. Ideological consensus must have new improvements and new achievements must be made in fulfilling duties. Political parties participating must have a new look