China-Africa Media Forum: China’s NPC and Whole-Process People’s Democracy held on 24 February in Pretoria, South Africa, aroused keen interest among South African academia. Many scholars and experts expressed their views on topics such as annual sessions of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, known commonly as Two Sessions; whole-process people’s democracy; and the exchanges between Chinese and South African democracies. 

According to Paul Zilungisele Tembe, founder and director at SELE Encounters - Cross-Civilisational Communication Strategies and Analytics, whole-process people’s democracy is associated with good governance, which entails effective and efficient delivery of common goods. Judged on this alone, the Communist Party of China has achieved this rare feat of delivering for its citizens and diverse communities basic and advanced education, health care, infrastructure, employment, and safety. 

He noted that unlike in other countries where the will of the people matters during elections only, in China, the people’s interests reign supreme throughout the terms of office of public officials, regardless of their levels of administrations. The whole-process people’s democracy has enabled China to build the world’s largest social security system and a basic medical insurance coverage which reaches more than 95 percent of the country’s population. This is in addition to the unprecedented accomplishment of lifting 770 million Chinese citizens from absolute poverty. In the process, China reached the SDG Goal 1 of ending poverty in all its forms 10 years ahead of schedule. 

President Xi Jinping has stated that “democracy is not an ornament to be used for decoration; it is to be used to solve the problems people want to solve.” According to Tembe, the whole-process people’s democracy can solve the problems Chinese people want to solve. Between 2016 and 2023, China created an estimated 100 million decent jobs, which is an obvious sign of the Chinese democracy in action, which links the attainment of socio-economic rights to social cohesion and nation-building. 

Contrary to China, in some Western democracies, the government is dominated by a few interest groups and mainly advances the well-being of a few. As a result, the majority is unable to enjoy the fruits of democracy. That is an example of bad governance. 

Mahasha Rampedi, editor in chief of African Times, noted that the forum, held just before the start of the Two Sessions, provided a good opportunity for more people to know about China’s democracy. China adopted the whole-process people’s democracy in light of its national conditions, which suits China’s development.  

He said Mondli Hlatshwayo, professor at the University of Johannesburg who spoke at the forum, made interesting observations about governance in China, especially how SOEs are run compared to that in South Africa.  

According to Rampedi, China could lend some experience to South Africa in governance, especially in areas of compulsory education and poverty reduction. At this year’s Two Sessions, a series of policies and measures are expected to be released to further stimulate economic recovery and development, which will not only benefit the Chinese people, but also bring more development opportunities for African people. China has launched a lot of cooperation projects in African countries with large investments. When Chinese economy grows further, these projects will get more investment, which will create well-being for more African people. 

Vuma Tiego, international relations project manager at the National School of Government of South Africa, said that the whole-process people’s democracy put the people and people’s interests as the priority, so that the people could have more benefits and greater power. China’s achievements in its development have proved that the whole-process people’s democracy is good for the well-being of the people. China has eradicated absolute poverty throughout the country. This type of democracy suits China’s condition, is deeply rooted in Chinese history and culture, and can solve the problems of the Chinese people.  

China-Africa Media Forum: China’s NPC and Whole-Process People’s Democracy was held by the Africa Bureau of CICG Centre for Europe and Africa on 24 February. More than 80 participants, including experts, scholars and reporters of mainstream media in China and South Africa, attended the forum.