Different from representative democracy in the West, Chinese democracy puts public participation at its core and is a new form of political civilization, experts said at a seminar held in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, on Sunday.

Themed "Chinese democracy and human rights protection," the seminar attracted over 30 experts and scholars from research institutions and related organizations.

The experts said many people in the West think that there's no democracy in China, while their conclusion is based on the belief that democracy can only be possible under a two-party or multi-party system. But the fact is that China's socialist democracy has been developed based on its national context after numerous trials, just like the country's political system.

Lu Guangjin, vice president of the China Society for Human Rights Studies, said the Chinese democracy is an important achievement in China's political progress, with four outstanding characteristics – it's a socialist democracy, a whole-process people's democracy, a developing democracy and the country is run by the people.

Qian Jinyu, executive deputy director of the Institute of Human Rights at Northwest University of Political Science and Law, said that public participation is the core element of Chinese democracy, which is different from that of the West and is a new form of political civilization.

The people's participation in politics is regarded as the "essence" of China's socialist democracy. As written in the Constitution, "state power belongs to people." The idea is embodied in the people's congress system as well as in the political consultative system.

Deputies to the National People's Congress and local people's congresses are elected by people from all walks of life and from all 56 ethnic groups. Gathering together, the deputies are able to participate in the discussion and decision-making process of state and government affairs. The political system gives full play to the wisdom and strength of the entire society so as to reach the broadest possible consensus and ensure every policy can be rational.

The experts also shared their insights on how Chinese democracy can guarantee law-based governance and human rights protection.

Chen Youwu, dean of the law school at Guangdong University of Technology, said that democracy and human rights are the values shared by all mankind. The essence of Chinese democracy lies in respecting and safeguarding human rights, and Chinese democracy is a new form of democracy that realizes human freedom and equality.

Hu Yuhong, head of the institute of human rights research at East China University of Political Science and Law, said that there is no rule of law without democracy and the rule of law needs to frame its basic contents in democratic ways. China's whole-process people's democracy enriches people's democratic rights and highlights the universality and continuity of people's democratic rights.

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(Cover: People are seen at a railway station in Beijing, China, October 7, 2021. /CFP)