Pooling collective wisdom
This is an idea of Zhuge Liang (181-234), a legendary prime minister and statesman of the Kingdom of Shu during the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280). It reminds the decision-makers to encourage free airing of views and solicit opinions extensively to help make right judgement and decision, rather than acting arbitrarily on their own. Pooling collective wisdom is a process of encouraging people's initiative to act in unison.
Speaking at the Central Conference on the Work of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), held in September 2019, to also mark the CPPCC's 70th anniversary, Xi Jinping said: We should develop socialist consultative democracy, make good use of democratic centralism, carry forward the fine tradition of "unity-criticism-unity," draw on collective wisdom, and promote full expression and in-depth exchange of different ideas and viewpoints.
集思广益
“集思广益”出自《教与军师长史参军掾属》，意为集中众人的智慧，广泛吸收有益的意见。这一理念提醒决策者要广开言路，虚心听取各方意见，在综合考虑的基础上作出判断和决策，决不能自以为是、独断专行。“集思广益”不仅是汇集智慧的过程，也是调动众人积极性、达成行动一致性的过程。
2019年9月，习近平在中央政协工作会议暨庆祝中国人民政治协商会议成立70周年大会上指出，发展社会主义协商民主，要把民主集中制的优势运用好，发扬“团结—批评—团结”的优良传统，广开言路，集思广益，促进不同思想观点的充分表达和深入交流。
