Is China’s political system efficient and effective?

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By CGTN's Dialogue

The 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) convenes in Beijing within days, and it will review the Party’s work over the last five years as well as putting forward proposals and plans for the coming years.

China’s political system could be considered a meritocracy with Chinese characteristics, differing as it does from systems in use elsewhere around the world.

The country is led by the CPC cooperating with eight democratic parties in discussion and management of state affairs.

Xu Qinduo on CGTN's Dialogue. /CGTN Screenshot

Political analyst from China Radio International, Xu Qinduo, affirmed the meritocratic aspects of the Chinese political system.

He compared Western systems with the Chinese style of governance which leads by few elites, pointing out the problems and shortcomings of two-party and multi-party systems with the results of some elections speaking out in defense of nationalism and or protectionism.

"In the Chinese political system, you see a fast decision and also fast solid implementation of those policies with good results," he said.

Xu thinks that Western politics is suffused with debate and discussion followed by slow implementation and lack of continuity of policies, especially when there is a change of ruling party, while the governance in China has obvious advantages in being politically efficient.

While the senior fellow at the Public Policy Institute, Martin Sieff, said, "China over the past 40 years has been much more efficient and effective than the United States in generating increased levels of prosperity for its own people."

He described China’s record over the last 40 years as "extraordinary".

Although, in his view, there is an increasingly large population living in comfortable and sustainable standard in China, he put forward a promising prognosis for further growth of China’s system and governance.

Dialogue with Yang Rui is a 30-minute current affairs talk show on CGTN. It airs daily at 7.30 p.m. BJT (1130GMT), with rebroadcasts at 3.30 a.m. (1930GMT) and 11.30 a.m. (0330GMT).

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