The 10th National Congress of the China Association for
Promoting Democracy (CAPD) was inaugurated here Saturday.
Li Keqiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist
Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, attended
the opening session and delivered a congratulatory message on
behalf of the CPC Central Committee.
In his speech, Li praised the CAPD for its role in the CPC-led
multiparty cooperation and its contribution to the development of
the socialist cause with China's own characteristics.
The recent 17th CPC Congress has created a sound environment for
non-communist parties in the country to play a better role as a
participant party, said the CPC senior official.
Li called socialism with China's own characteristics a common
ideal for the people of different ethnic groups including all
non-communist party members.
To continuously push forward the great cause of socialism with
China's own characteristics is a common cause and a common
responsibility for the CPC and non-communist parties, he said.
Han Qide, chairman of the Jiu San Society (JSS) and vice
chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's
Congress, spoke on behalf of other non-communist parties in the
country. He paid tribute to the achievements the CAPD has made over
the past five years.
Xu Jialu, chairman of the CAPD, submitted a report on the work
of the 11th Central Committee of the CAPD. Xu said his party will
seriously study and implement the essence of the CPC Congress,
uphold the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics,
and seriously carry out its duties as a participant party.
China has eight non-communist parties. Apart from the CAPD and
JSS, there are the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese
Kuomintang, the China Democratic League, the China National
Democratic Construction Association, the Chinese Peasants and
Workers Democratic Party, the China Zhi Gong Dang, and the Taiwan
Democratic Self-Government League.
The CAPD was founded in Shanghai on Dec. 30, 1945. Its present
103,000 members are mainly senior and leading intellectuals in the
fields of culture, education and publishing.
The congress is scheduled to end on Dec. 7.
(Xinhua News Agency December 2, 2007)