Since the 1980s, amidst its reform and opening-up, China has embraced socialism with Chinese characteristics, which prioritizes the Party's leadership. Under this structure, China's broad-based political reform, encompassing streamlining the bureaucracy, different state institutions, and the rule of law, is catalyzed by the reform of the Party itself.

One cannot understand contemporary China without understanding the Communist Party of China (CPC), and one cannot understand political reform in China without understanding reform of the CPC. To find out more about the Party's role in the reform process, Robert Lawrence Kuhn spoke with Li Junru, former vice president of the Central Party School, the highest educational institution for CPC officials.

Li Junru depicted China's current system with a vivid image of the triangle. According to him, under the Party leadership is a triangle of its overarching authority over three main sectors: the government (including the legislature); the market (including both state-owned and private enterprises); and society (including social organizations and communities).

The three corners of this triangle are well connected to the legal system, as well as to the virtues of Chinese characteristics. He also emphasized the difference between the systems in China and in Western countries.

China has shaped a system of governance featuring “democratic centralism” in which the ruling party not only exerts its authority but also leads the market and society. At the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee, President Xi Jinping offered his interpretation of China's governance system: the entire system encompasses economy, politics, culture, society and ecology – with all of it under the Party's leadership.

According to Li, it's imperative that China commits to the leadership of the Party due to its role as a planner and coordinator of stakeholders of all sides. The CPC is highly competent and capable, enabling everyone to work together, to create a shared society, broad-based governance and common prosperity.

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