Xi Jinping urges party to be more open to criticism

Want China Times, Xinhua and Staff Reporter 2013-02-10

Xi Jinping speaks in Beijing in January. (Photo/Xinhua)

Chinese leader Xi Jinping has urged the Communist Party to be more tolerant of criticism and receptive to the views of non-party members.

Xi, the party's new general secretary since the 18th National Congress in November, made the remarks on Wednesday at a gathering convened to extend Lunar New Year's greetings to people belonging to other parties in the nation, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and those without party affiliation.

"The CPC should be able to put up with sharp criticism, correct mistakes if it has committed them and avoid them if it has not," he said.

"Non-CPC personages should meanwhile have the courage to tell the truth, speak words jarring to the ear, and truthfully reflect public aspirations," he added.

Criticism from non-party members may help the CPC identify, analyze and solve problems, he said. Xi asked party committees at all levels to readily accept and welcome supervision from other political parties and personages so as to improve their work style and quality.

At the event, Xi expressed appreciation for the hard work of the country's other political parties and personages in the past five years.

The general secretary called upon non-party members to consolidate with the CPC their political common ground, namely socialism with Chinese characteristics. Xi urged them to offer more wise and practical suggestions and consultations as pushing forward the country's development requires extensive force.

Li Keqiang and Yu Zhengsheng, both members of the Politburo Standing Committee, were also present at the gathering to mark the Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 10 this year.

In addition to the CPC, China has eight other recognized political parties that take part in state affairs in partnership with the Communist Party.