Multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC constitute the basic party system in China. Under the system, the CPC is the ruling party, and various non-Communist parties, as political unions of socialist laborers and socialism-supporting patriots who rally to them, participate in the administration of state affairs and make concerted efforts with the CPC to advance the socialist cause. The CPC, which holds the power of this country with a population of 1.3 billion, is keen to receive suggestions and criticisms and commits itself to public supervision. In this regard, non-Communist parties may serve as important channels to express public opinions and carry out supervision.

Major forms of the multi-party cooperation and political consultation are as follows:

First, the CPPCC, which is an important arena for all parties, mass organizations and representatives from all walks of life to participate in the discussion and administration of state affairs;

Second, symposiums held by the CPC Central Committee and local CPC committees at different levels for informing the non-Communist parties and nonparty personages of important events, discussing with them state policy decisions, such as the nomination of candidates for leading positions of central and local governments, choice of deputies to the NPC and members of the CPPCC, and soliciting their opinions and suggestions;

Third, people's congress deputies selected from the non-Communist parties, who participate in the discussion and administration of state affairs and play a supervisory role in people's congresses at various levels in the capacity of people's deputies;

Fourth, members of non-Communist parties selected and appointed to leading posts in the State Council and its ministries and commissions, and in local governments above the county level and relevant departments; and

Fifth, qualified members of non-Communist parties elected to leading posts in procuratorial and judicial organs.

Both the CPC and the eight democratic parties must take the Constitution of the PRC as the criterion for their activities. The democratic parties are independent in organization and enjoy political freedom, organizational independence and legal equality under the Constitution. Cooperative relations between the CPC and the democratic parties are based on the principle of "long-term coexistence and mutual supervision, treating each other with full sincerity and sharing weal or woe."