China white paper on democracy

The white paper admits corruption is a problem

China has published a white paper on democracy and political reform - the first of its kind issued by Beijing.

The 74-page paper stressed that the ruling Communist Party would remain in charge.

It described the Party as a "fundamental guarantee for the Chinese people to be masters in managing the affairs of their own country."

China's critics say its increased economic power should be matched by political reform and more openness.

But the white paper insisted that economic development needed social stability - since without it, "smooth economic development cannot be expected".

It also said that each country should be permitted to pick its own path to democracy.

"Because situations differ from one country to another, the paths the people of different countries take to win and develop democracy are different," the white paper said.

'Apt choice'

The document, titled Building of Political Democracy in China, concluded that socialist political democracy "was the apt choice suited to China's conditions and meeting the requirement of social progress".

There is still a long way to go in China's building of political democracy Full text of the white paper [from the China Daily]

China's path was one of "socialist democracy with its own characteristics", which has enabled the Chinese people "to become masters of their own country and society, and enjoy extensive democratic rights," the white paper said.

Over the past 20 years, great progress has been made in building China's political system as well as improving the rights of people at grassroots level, the paper said.

But it also admitted that "the CPC [Communist Party of China] and the Chinese people are clearly aware of the many problems yet to be overcome".

The paper said that "bureaucracy and corruption still exist and spread in some departments and localities".

It also pointed out that the mechanism of supervising the use of power needed improvement.

"There is still a long way to go in China's building of political democracy," the paper said.