China has multiple parties. Apart from the CPC¨Cthe ruling party, there are eight democratic parties. These parties, existing before the founding of the PRC, support the political leadership of the CPC, which has become their historical choice during the long years of cooperation with the CPC and through common struggles. Both the CPC and the eight democratic parties must take the Constitution 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."

The democratic parties in China are neither parties out of office nor opposition parties, but parties participating in the discussion and administration of State affairs, including participating in State power, decisions on State policies and strategies, discussions about State leadership, administration of State affairs, and implementation of State policies, laws and regulations.

The CPC conducts consultations with democratic parties and nonparty personages before taking any major measures or making decisions on issues concerning the national economy and the people's livelihood. Policy decisions are made based on consensus reached through consultation. The democratic parties and nonparty personages have considerable numbers of representatives in organs of State power¨Cthe NPC and its Standing Committee, the NPC special committees and local people's congresses at various levels, thus taking a greater part in the discussion and administration of State affairs and bringing their supervisory role into fuller play. Members of the democratic parties and nonparty people are also appointed to leading posts in governments at different levels and judicial organs. These are salient features of the multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC.

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

First, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (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 the CPC Central Committee and local CPC committees at different levels for informing the democratic 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 democratic parties 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 democratic parties are 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.

Fifth, qualified members of democratic parties are elected to leading posts in procuratorial and judicial organs.