China to ensure non-Communist parties' political participation

China will ensure and support the participation of non-Communist parties and figures without party affiliation in the exercise of state power, said a government action plan released on Monday.

The National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2012-2015) published by China's State Council Information Office (SCIO) said the state will make further efforts to improve the systems, diversify the forms and open up the channels of democracy, and to expand citizens' orderly participation in political affairs.

The state will ensure and support the participation of non-Communist parties and figures without party affiliation in the exercise of state power, consultation on major state policies and choice of state leaders, administration of state affairs, and formulation and implementation of state policies, laws and regulations, it said.

The action plan said that the state will continuously support the trade unions, the Communist Youth League, the women's federations and other mass organizations in their participation in social management and provision of public services in accordance with the law.

The government will wholeheartedly gather opinions from the mass organizations when formulating and amending relevant laws, regulations and public policies, it said.

The government will encourage orderly participation by social organizations in social construction, the action plan said.

The Law on Philanthropy will be formulated, and the Regulations on the Registration of Social Organizations, the Interim Regulations on the Registration of Private Non-enterprise Entities and the Regulations on the Management of Foundations will be amended, it said.

The government will standardize activities of voluntary services and expedite the development of voluntary services, the action plan said.

The government will improve the system of workers' congress and the system of directors and supervisors from among workers, and giving support to trade unions in participating in the management of enterprises and public institutions on behalf of workers and staff, the plan said.

Efforts will be made to gradually realize the goal of full coverage of the system of workers' congress in state and collective enterprises and state- and collective-controlled enterprises where trade union organizations are established, and in more than 80 percent of non-public enterprises with trade union organizations, it said.