What are the principles of democracy?
民主制度的原则是什么?
Greece is the home of democracy.
希腊是民主的发祥地。
Democracy is a bulwark of freedom.
民主是自由的保障。
Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.
现在是使民主的承诺成为事实的时候。
Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
民主是人民的政府，由人民治理，并为人民服务。
In a true democracy, every voice matters, regardless of social status or wealth.
在真正的民主中，每个人的声音都同等重要，不论其社会地位或财富。
The annual election is a cornerstone of our democratic process, where citizens exercise their right to vote.
年度选举是我们民主进程中的基石，公民在此行使他们的投票权。
The freedom of speech is a fundamental principle in a democratic society, allowing citizens to express their opinions freely.
言论自由是民主社会的基本原则，它允许公民自由表达意见。
Democracy promotes equal representation, ensuring that all citizens have an equal say in decision-making.
民主促进平等代表，确保所有公民在决策中有平等的发言权。
A participatory democracy encourages active involvement of citizens in policy discussions and problem-solving.
参与式民主鼓励公民积极参与政策讨论和问题解决。
The judiciary plays a vital role in upholding the rule of law in a democratic system.
司法部门在民主体系中起着维护法治的关键作用。
In a democratic society, the power is not concentrated in the hands of a few, but distributed among various branches of government.
在民主社会中，权力不是集中在少数人手中，而是分散在政府的不同分支。
Elections provide a platform for peaceful transition of power, ensuring continuity and stability in a democratic nation.
选举为和平交接权力提供了平台，保证了民主国家的连续性和稳定性。
The media acts as a watchdog in a democratic society, holding those in power accountable for their actions.
媒体在民主社会中扮演着监督者的角色，对掌权者的行为进行问责。
"Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated," the South Africa-born Musk, who has 83.6 million Twitter followers, said in a joint statement with Twitter.
出生于南非的马斯克在推特上拥有8360万粉丝，他在与推特的联合声明中表示：“言论自由是民主运作的基石，推特是对人类未来至关重要的问题进行辩论的数字城市广场。”。
US Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat tweeted: "This deal is dangerous for our democracy.
马萨诸塞州民主党参议员伊丽莎白·沃伦在推特上写道：“这项协议对我们的民主是危险的。
"Protectionism, unilateralism, unfair economic sanctions on other countries, trade tariff barriers, and using trade as a weapon to intimidate or to subjugate sovereign states in the name of democracy and human rights are all malpractices," the professor said.
It has now become a large-scale education experiment," said Zhu Yongxin, deputy secretary-general of the Central Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy.
From a global strategic perspective, stronger South-South cooperation will help promote democracy in international relations," Qu said.
Digital field, R&D spends, core tech, monetary and fiscal policies to underpin growthAs China's two sessions－the annual sittings of the national legislature and the top political advisory body－ended on March 11, they showed the world how in the world's second-largest economy, the intersection of democracy, policymaking and lawmaking contributes to high-quality development, the dream of almost every country these days.
The United States has, under its Indo-Pacific Strategy, vigorously promoted the Indo-Pacific digital strategy, built a common values-based consensus centered on the idea of "democracy", implanted common values of "freedom and openness" in the Indo-Pacific digital space, and established multidimensional and multifunctional technical alliances and partnerships, in an attempt to build a technical rules system featuring a "layered pyramid" of de-Sinicization.
During exchanges with primary-level lawmakers, Zhao underscored the significance of practicing whole-process people's democracy, and called for efforts to give full play to primary-level legislative outreach offices and lawmakers' stations.
Zhang Yong, deputy head of the commission, said the decision will promote whole-process people's democracy, advance law-based governance and guarantee compliance with rule of law.
"Improving the system of recording and reviewing normative documents is to strengthen the full implementation of the Constitution, advance law-based governance and promote whole-process people's democracy," Zhang Yong, deputy head of the NPC Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission, said while introducing the draft decision to lawmakers on Monday.
The commission said that it will continue taking the whole-process people's democracy approach to serve deputies in duty performance, encouraging them to make more high-quality suggestions and providing easier channels for them and departments to exchange opinions.
China's top legislature held a seminar on Tuesday with representatives from five Pacific Island countries on the practice of democracy in legislation, policymaking and social governance, with exchanges of ideas on how to better serve the people and promote development in a democratic way.
Zhai Wei, an official from the NPC Standing Committee, introduced China's whole-process people's democracy to the parliamentarians, saying the democracy has a complete set of institutions and procedures, with wide participation and strong oversight.
He underscored that the connotation of democracy is not limited to the right to vote, "but people's extensive participation in the democratic election, consultation, decision-making, governance and supervision".
The system of people's congresses is an important institutional carrier for whole-process people's democracy, Zhao said, urging people's congresses to continue to follow a people-centered approach, fully draw on the people's opinion and wisdom, and safeguard the people's rights and interests and improve their wellbeing.
Also, the introduction of whole-process people's democracy has ensured people's rights of participation, expression and supervision, Cai said.
Also, the introduction of whole-process of people's democracy has ensured people's rights of participation, expression and supervision, Cai said.
He voiced opposition to the clamoring of the so-called "democracy versus authoritarianism" narrative and any attempt to impose one's own values or development modes onto others.
They toured an exhibition to learn the history of the CPPCC and China's consultative democracy, and participated in a forum with CPPCC National Committee members to exchange views on the role of consultation in deepening Belt and Road cooperation.
He stressed the importance of practicing whole-process people's democracy throughout the legislation work, improving the mechanisms for deputies to engage in the work and expanding channels for the public to participate in the law-making process.
China's top legislator Zhao Leji called on Friday for heightened exchanges between legislative bodies of China and Benin to share experiences in democracy and the rule of law, and provide a sound legal framework for bilateral practical cooperation.
Highlighting the importance of implementing the Constitution and upholding the whole-process people's democracy approach in legislation, Yang told the paper that the plan focuses on legislative affairs in major, emerging and foreign-related areas.
Zhao also underlined the practice of whole-process people's democracy, stressing the need to improve mechanisms that seek and assimilate public opinions in law-making.
The Chinese path to modernization shares similarities with the paths to modernization taken in other countries that are industrialized and market-based, and where democracy, the rule of law, urbanization and informatization apply, he said.
According to the outline, the CPC Central Committee will improve regulations and systems related to the Party's own development, including regulations that improve intra-Party democracy, enhance the close connections between the Party and the people, prevent privileges among leading officials, correct mistakes and fight corruption.
Democracy, the form of which varies in different countries based on their national conditions, should not just focus on elections and electoral methods use to select leaders, but also consider how these leaders serve the people, experts said on Wednesday in a global forum on democracy held in Beijing.
Each country and region has a unique historical background and cultural development, said Humphrey Moshi, an expert on Chinese studies at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, while attending the 2nd International Forum on Democracy: the Shared Human Values.
However, as the expert pointed out, democracy in the United States, which is typical seen in Western countries, has still been unable to resolve the problems of poverty, discrimination and homelessness in the country over the past 100-odd years.
China, where democracy has maintained a balance between politics, the economy and society, has outperformed Western countries during the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of economic growth and saving lives, he said.
Yan Yilong, deputy dean of Institute for Contemporary China Studies at Tsinghua University, said that Western democracy centered on competitive elections is only one form of the political system.
The problem with that form of democracy is that a government can be elected through legal procedures, but cannot operate from the perspective of common people, or won't properly represent public opinion during its actual work after the elections, according to the scholar.
But China's whole-process people's democracy considers not only the selection of officials, but also the processes of making decisions, policy implementation and supervision, he said, taking China's recently closed Two Sessions as an example in which many topics related to the livelihood of ordinary people were discussed.
"For China and Russia, to uphold true multilateralism means to promote greater democracy in international relations and push for fairer and more reasonable global governance in order to jointly address global challenges," Li said.
He also expressed the hope that the media continues to tell stories of China's whole-process people's democracy well.
Whole-process people's democracyThe amended law enshrines in the general provisions that whole-process people's democracy should be upheld and developed.
Wang Huning, chairman of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, said while addressing the closing meeting that the session spoke volumes about the characteristics and advantages of China's whole-process people's democracy and its vigor and vitality.
Highlighting the significance of implementing the whole-process people's democracy, he added that relevant departments will carefully review and deal with those motions and suggestions, with increased communication with the deputies to ensure their voices are heard.
I shared the same sentiment as I joined hundreds of reporters from China and overseas as well as foreign envoys to China on the second floor of the Great Hall of the People, bearing witness to this quintessential moment of China's whole-process people's democracy.
Today, the sessions vividly reflect the Chinese way of rule of law coupled with whole-process people's democracy, and the effective roles of government tied to multiculturalism and promotion of balanced economic growth in China and beyond.
"By improving the system of public participation, governance and sharing, and promoting such working mechanisms as public hearings, roundtable meetings and third-party evaluation, and announcements and services, we have made great efforts to apply the concept of whole-process people's democracy throughout the handling of public interest litigation cases," he said.
The legislative bodies must adhere to the path of socialist political advancement with Chinese characteristics, and remain committed to the major concept of whole-process people's democracy and the people's congress system, Li said.
Zhao called on them to enhance their connection with the CPC, leverage the strengths of the country's new type of socialist political party system, coordinate efforts to promote democracy and unity, and create a powerful collective force for realizing the Chinese Dream.
Li Xi, also secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, stressed the need to advance the Party's self-revolution in a group meeting with political advisors from the China Association for Promoting Democracy and the sector of press and publication.
They are the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, China Democratic League, China Democratic National Construction Association, China Association for Promoting Democracy, Chinese Peasants' and Workers' Democratic Party, China Zhi Gong Dang, Jiu San Society and Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League.
China practices inclusive, law-based governance and whole-process people's democracy.
As President Xi Jinping has said, "If the people are awakened only for voting but enter a dormant period soon after, if they are given a song and dance during campaigning but have no say after the election, or if they are favored during canvassing but are left out in the cold after the election, such a democracy is not a true democracy.
It is entirely the opposite of Western liberal democracy, in which politicians consult people during election campaigns and ask people to wait until the next election if they are not happy with the government.
Thus, China has given birth to a new model of democracy and governance with whole-process people's democracy.
This democracy of China is based on the people's will, quality governance, equal participation, equal opportunities to grow and move up the ladder of leadership, inclusiveness in decision-making and implementation, and a strong mechanism for oversight and accountability.
Finally, bills and measures are expected to be introduced to perfect the nation's rule of law and practices of whole-process people's democracy.
This indicates that China is confident in its model of democracy and ready to contribute more to civilizational progress.
In Chinese system, 'people are part of governance', Filipino professor saysWhole-process people's democracy best serves the real interests of China's 1.4 billion people and optimizes decision-making and monitoring in the world's second-largest economy, according to a Manila-based academic.
Jan Robert Go, assistant professor and associate dean at the College of Social Sciences and Philosophy at the University of the Philippines, said that China's whole-process people's democracy includes an electoral process, but also extends through policymaking, implementation and oversight.
He said that China promotes "consultative democracy" and encourages public involvement in decisions and policymaking.
He said that China practices "direct democracy" where citizens elect local leaders who represent them in their neighborhoods or village committees.
At the same time, China also has "indirect democracy", where elected representatives later choose leaders at higher levels of government — from the subdistrict to the central government — while elected leaders consult the people with regard to the crafting of policy and programs.
Whether through direct or indirect democracy, "people are part of governance" in the world's most populous country, he said.
The two sessions of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference show how whole-process people's democracy works for the country and its people, he said.
The CPPCC, China's top political advisory body, also has a "crucial role" in achieving whole-process people's democracy via consultative means.
"If the goal is to be a functional democracy, where the people are directly involved and consulted, the responsibility for that goal falls largely in the CPPCC's hands," he said.
"In addition, Go said that China has been broadening and improving its system of consultative democracy — making coordinated efforts to promote consultation by political parties, people's congresses, CPPCC members, people's organizations, communities and social organizations — and improving institutional consultative platforms to promote the extensive, multilevel and institutionalized development of consultative democracy.
Go also said the liberal democratic framework has dominated modern Western discourse, often at the expense of other forms of democracy.
"Because at the end of the day, democracy should work for its citizens, for its people," he said, adding that as far as China is concerned, whole-process people's democracy works for them.
The election is of great significance to developing whole-process people's democracy, upholding and improving the system of people's congresses, and modernizing China's system and capacity for governance.
It added that the NPC deputies, who came from the people and represent the people's interests, will continuously play a significant role in developing whole-process people's democracy and promote modernization of the national system and capacity for governance.
This potential — part of China's whole-process people's democracy — was clearly illustrated by a report delivered to President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of last year's two sessions, the annual meetings of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
The process — part of China's whole-process people's democracy — was clearly illustrated by an oral report delivered to President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of last year's two sessions, the annual meetings of the National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
"It gives full play to NPC deputies in implementing the country's whole-process people's democracy," he added.
Li Zhanshu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, highlighted the significance of suggestions and motions from deputies, saying that they reflected public ideas and embodied the country's socialist democracy that not only has a complete institutional procedure, but also participation in the whole process.
To carry out whole-process people's democracy, the top legislature has designated more than 30 sites, including colleges and subdistricts, as grassroots stations to collect people's ideas and suggestions on legislation over the past few years.
Shi Taifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, said that the membership of the 14th CPPCC National Committee meets the organization's requirements as "the most extensive patriotic united front organization and an important channel for consultative democracy in the new era".
The CPPCC is an important organ for multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, as well as an important means of promoting socialist democracy in China's political activities.
The CPPCC, the country's top political advisory body, is vital in the country's efforts to promote socialist democracy.
"The collection of suggestions is a process of implementing the whole-process people's democracy, which contributes us to finding problems, ensuring public voices can be heard and helping solve difficulties by rule of law," he added.
- The China Association for Promoting Democracy opened its 13th national congress in Beijing on Sunday.
Guided by the spirit of its 20th national congress, the CPC will unswervingly advance whole-process people's democracy, uphold and improve the system of CPC-led multiparty cooperation and political consultation, the message said.
The symposium, presided over by Xi, is an important way to practice socialist consultative democracy and build a broad consensus before decisions about major issues are made.
Jiang said that China would have to further develop the economy, expand democracy, advance science and education, enrich its culture, foster social harmony, and raise people's living standards.
Jiang stressed that to develop socialist democracy, the most fundamental thing is to uphold the unity of the Party's leadership, the running of the country by the people, and law-based governance.
He also advocated active actions to build a multi-polar world, promote greater democracy in international relations, respect the diversity of the world and enhance exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.
Law amendment to help guarantee public participation in legislative affairsWhole-process people's democracy has been highlighted in a draft law amendment, so as to ensure public opinions are heard in every step of legislative affairs.
"A people-centered approach, with whole-process people's democracy, must be upheld and implemented in legislative activities, as it will play a big role in helping us learn new public demands and understand their ideas," said Shen Chunyao, director of the NPC Standing Committee's Legislative Affairs Commission.
The concept of "whole-process people's democracy" was first advanced by President Xi Jinping during a visit to Shanghai in November 2019.
In a central conference on work related to people's congresses in October last year, for example, Xi stressed promoting whole-process people's democracy that enables the Chinese people to be broadly involved in national governance.
Xi said that whole-process people's democracy is the defining feature of socialist democracy, adding "it is democracy in its broadest, most genuine and most effective form".
In addition to highlighting whole-process people's democracy while revising the Legislation Law, Shen said that amending the law, which was adopted in 2000, is also a major measure to advance overall law-based governance and uphold the Constitution, and a practical demand to promote reforms by rule of law.
Over the past decade, the country's top legislature has stepped up efforts in developing democracy in legislative activities by various means.
In August, Yang Heqing, an official from the commission, said at a news conference that 10 more such stations would be established soon to further implement whole-process people's democracy and overall law-based governance.
Lauding whole-process people's democracy as a separate chapter that was written into the report to the 20th CPC National Congress, Song Xiongwei, a professor at the Party School of the CPC Central Committee, told China News Service that it was a milestone, regarding it not only as a conclusion of the past years' achievements, but also a theoretical innovation in the new era.
He added that the country should continue developing and optimizing whole-process people's democracy to meet public demand as well as the central leadership's new requirements of advancing on the path to modernization.
Among them, Xie Fuzhan said it is a must to uphold the CPC leadership, adhere to the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, stay committed to developing the whole-process people's democracy, and advance national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization.
He also called for efforts to uphold the exercise of law-based governance on all fronts, develop whole-process people's democracy, and give better play to the important role of the system of people's congress in state governance.