习近平主席在庆祝中国人民政治协商会议成立65周年大会上的讲话（中、英、法、日、西、 ...

同志们、朋友们！

Dear friends and colleagues,

社会主义协商民主，是中国社会主义民主政治的特有形式和独特优势，是中国共产党的群众路线在政治领域的重要体现。中共十八大提出，在发展我国社会主义民主政治的进程中，要完善协商民主制度和工作机制，推进协商民主广泛多层制度化发展。中共十八届三中全会强调，在党的领导下，以经济社会发展重大问题和涉及群众切身利益的实际问题为内容，在全社会开展广泛协商，坚持协商于决策之前和决策实施之中。这些重要论述和部署，为中国社会主义协商民主发展指明了方向。

Socialist deliberative democracy is a unique form and a distinctive strength of China’s socialist democracy. Politically, it is an important embodiment of the Party’s mass line. It was stated at the 18th Party Congress that as China’s socialist democracy progresses, we need to improve the institutions and mechanisms for deliberative democracy and promote its broad-based, multilevel, and institutionalized development. It was stressed at the Third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee that with a focus on the major issues concerning economic and social development and the practical issues that affect people’s immediate interests, the Party should lead extensive deliberations throughout the whole of society and ensure that deliberations are conducted both before decisions are made and during their implementation. These important statements and plans have shown what the way forward will be for China’s socialist deliberative democracy.

——我们要全面认识社会主义协商民主是中国社会主义民主政治的特有形式和独特优势这一重大判断。中国共产党领导人民实行人民民主，就是保证和支持人民当家作主。保证和支持人民当家作主不是一句口号、不是一句空话，必须落实到国家政治生活和社会生活之中，保证人民依法有效行使管理国家事务、管理经济和文化事业、管理社会事务的权力。

We should have a full understanding of the major assessment that socialist deliberative democracy is a unique form and a distinctive strength of China’s socialist democracy. The very purpose of the CPC’s leadership of the people in developing people’s democracy is to guarantee and support their position as masters of the country. Guaranteeing and supporting the position of the people as masters of the country is not simply a slogan or a few hollow words; we must ensure its implementation in both the country’s political and social activities, and guarantee the people’s right to effectively manage state affairs, economic and cultural undertakings, and social affairs in accordance with the law.

“名非天造，必从其实。”实现民主的形式是丰富多样的，不能拘泥于刻板的模式，更不能说只有一种放之四海而皆准的评判标准。人民是否享有民主权利，要看人民是否在选举时有投票的权利，也要看人民在日常政治生活中是否有持续参与的权利；要看人民有没有进行民主选举的权利，也要看人民有没有进行民主决策、民主管理、民主监督的权利。社会主义民主不仅需要完整的制度程序，而且需要完整的参与实践。人民当家作主必须具体地、现实地体现到中国共产党执政和国家治理上来，具体地、现实地体现到中国共产党和国家机关各个方面、各个层级的工作上来，具体地、现实地体现到人民对自身利益的实现和发展上来。

A name is not granted by heaven; it must be earned in life. There are many diverse ways to realize democracy, so we cannot just rigidly copy any particular one. Further, we must recognize that there is no such thing as a standard model that is universally acceptable. Whether people enjoy democratic rights or not depends on whether they have the right to vote in elections, as well as whether they have the right to constantly participate in everyday political activities. Besides having the right to democratic elections, it also depends on whether they have right to democratic decision-making, democratic management, and democratic oversight. Socialist democracy requires not just a complete set of institutions and procedures, but also full participation. The position of the people as masters of the country must be given concrete and practical expression to through the exercise of state power by the CPC and its governance of the country, in all aspects of the work of the Party and government organizations at all levels, and through the realization and development of the people’s own interests.

实行人民民主，保证人民当家作主，要求我们在治国理政时在人民内部各方面进行广泛商量。毛泽东同志说过：“国家各方面的关系都要协商。”“我们政府的性格，你们也都摸熟了，是跟人民商量办事的”，“可以叫它是个商量政府”。周恩来同志说过：“新民主主义的议事精神不在于最后的表决，主要是在于事前的协商和反复的讨论。”

Putting people’s democracy into practice and ensuring the people’s position as masters of the country, demands that we conduct extensive deliberations amongst people throughout the whole of society while governing the country. Mao Zedong once said, “The relations between all aspects of the state need deliberations… You are all familiar with the nature of our government – to do things through consultations with the people… we may call it a consultative government.” Zhou Enlai once said, “The spirit of deliberation of the new-democratic revolution is not in the final voting; it is mainly in the deliberations and repeated discussions that happen before a decision is made.”

在中国社会主义制度下，有事好商量，众人的事情由众人商量，找到全社会意愿和要求的最大公约数，是人民民主的真谛。涉及人民利益的事情，要在人民内部商量好怎么办，不商量或者商量不够，要想把事情办成办好是很难的。我们要坚持有事多商量，遇事多商量，做事多商量，商量得越多越深入越好。涉及全国各族人民利益的事情，要在全体人民和全社会中广泛商量；涉及一个地方人民群众利益的事情，要在这个地方的人民群众中广泛商量；涉及一部分群众利益、特定群众利益的事情，要在这部分群众中广泛商量；涉及基层群众利益的事情，要在基层群众中广泛商量。在人民内部各方面广泛商量的过程，就是发扬民主、集思广益的过程，就是统一思想、凝聚共识的过程，就是科学决策、民主决策的过程，就是实现人民当家作主的过程。这样做起来，国家治理和社会治理才能具有深厚基础，也才能凝聚起强大力量。

Under China’s socialist system, deliberations help when a problem crops up, and matters involving many people are discussed by all those involved; to reach consensus on the wishes and needs of the whole of society is the essence of people’s democracy. On matters that concern the people’s interests, deliberations should be held with the people; without deliberation or with insufficient deliberation, it is difficult to handle these matters well.

We should always hold deliberations when we find and address issues: the more numerous and in-depth, the better. On matters that have a bearing on the interests of people of all our ethnic groups, deliberations will be held extensively throughout the whole of society; on matters that concern the interests of people in one specific area, deliberations will be held among the local people there; on matters that affect the interests of certain groups of people, deliberations will be held among those groups; and on matters that concern the interests of people at the community level, deliberations will be held within the community.

The process of holding extensive deliberations among the people is the process of promoting democracy and drawing on collective wisdom, the process of unifying people’s thinking and building consensus, the process of scientific and democratic decision-making, and the process of ensuring the position of the people as masters of the country. It is only in this way that we can have solid foundations for our country’s governance and for social governance; it is only in this way that we are be able to draw together powerful strength.

古今中外的实践都表明，保证和支持人民当家作主，通过依法选举、让人民的代表来参与国家生活和社会生活的管理是十分重要的，通过选举以外的制度和方式让人民参与国家生活和社会生活的管理也是十分重要的。人民只有投票的权利而没有广泛参与的权利，人民只有在投票时被唤醒、投票后就进入休眠期，这样的民主是形式主义的。

In both ancient and modern times, in China and abroad, experience has shown that to guarantee and support the people’s position as masters of the country, it is paramount that people’s lawfully elected representatives participate in the management of state affairs and social activities, and it is equally important that the people participate in such activities through systems and methods other than election. If the people merely have the right to vote but no right of extensive participation, in other words, if they are only awakened at election time but go into hibernation afterwards, then this kind of democracy will only be a formalistic one.

在总结新中国人民民主实践的基础上，我们明确提出，在我们这个人口众多、幅员辽阔的社会主义国家里，关系国计民生的重大问题，在中国共产党领导下进行广泛协商，体现了民主和集中的统一；人民通过选举、投票行使权利和人民内部各方面在重大决策之前进行充分协商，尽可能就共同性问题取得一致意见，是中国社会主义民主的两种重要形式。在中国，这两种民主形式不是相互替代、相互否定的，而是相互补充、相得益彰的，共同构成了中国社会主义民主政治的制度特点和优势。

On the basis of the review of our experience with people’s democracy since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, we have made it clear that in such a vast and populous socialist country, extensive deliberation under the leadership of the CPC on major issues affecting the economy and the people’s quality of life embodies the unity of democracy and centralism. Chinese socialist democracy takes two important forms, in one of which, the people exercise their right to vote in elections, and in the other, people from all sectors of society undertake extensive deliberations before major decisions are made. In China, these two forms do not cancel one another out, and nor are they contradictory; they are complementary. They constitute institutional features and strengths of Chinese socialist democracy.

协商民主是中国社会主义民主政治中独特的、独有的、独到的民主形式，它源自中华民族长期形成的天下为公、兼容并蓄、求同存异等优秀政治文化，源自近代以后中国政治发展的现实进程，源自中国共产党领导人民进行革命、建设、改革的长期实践，源自新中国成立后各党派、各团体、各民族、各阶层、各界人士在政治制度上共同实现的伟大创造，源自改革开放以来中国在政治体制上的不断创新，具有深厚的文化基础、理论基础、实践基础、制度基础。

Deliberative democracy is a unique form of Chinese socialist democracy. It springs from our nation’s long-established inclusive political culture, in which we believe that all under heaven belongs to the people and we can seek common ground while putting aside differences. It springs from China’s political evolution in modern times, from the long-term practical experience built as the CPC led the people through the course of revolution, development, and reform; from the great innovations made in our political institutions by all political parties, people’s organizations, ethnic groups, and people from all social strata and different backgrounds after the founding of the People’s Republic of China; and from the continuous innovations in China’s political system since reform and opening up. It has firm cultural, theoretical, practical, and institutional foundations.

协商民主深深嵌入了中国社会主义民主政治全过程。中国社会主义协商民主，既坚持了中国共产党的领导，又发挥了各方面的积极作用；既坚持了人民主体地位，又贯彻了民主集中制的领导制度和组织原则；既坚持了人民民主的原则，又贯彻了团结和谐的要求。所以说，中国社会主义协商民主丰富了民主的形式、拓展了民主的渠道、加深了民主的内涵。

Deliberative democracy has been integrated into the whole process of Chinese socialist democracy. The Chinese socialist system of deliberative democracy not only upholds the leadership of the CPC, but also gives expression to the positive role of all sides; it not only upholds the people’s principal position in the country, but also implements the leadership system and organizational principle of democratic centralism; and it not only adheres to the principle of people’s democracy, but also promotes unity and harmony. So, the Chinese socialist system of deliberative democracy diversifies the forms and widens the channels of democracy, and gives it new meaning.

——我们要深刻把握社会主义协商民主是中国共产党的群众路线在政治领域的重要体现这一基本定性。中国共产党来自人民、服务人民，这就决定了中国共产党领导人民建立的中华人民共和国必须紧紧依靠人民治国理政、管理社会。中国共产党在自己的工作中实行群众路线，坚持一切为了群众，一切依靠群众，从群众中来，到群众中去，把自己的正确主张变为群众的自觉行动。中华人民共和国宪法规定，国家的一切权力属于人民，一切国家机关和国家工作人员必须依靠人民的支持，经常保持同人民的密切联系，倾听人民的意见和建议，接受人民的监督，努力为人民服务。无论是中国共产党执政，还是国家机关施政，都必须坚持贯彻群众路线，紧紧依靠人民。

We need to thoroughly understand the fundamental nature of socialist deliberative democracy as an important reflection of the Party’s mass line in the political sphere. The CPC comes from the people, and serves the people. This makes it essential that the People’s Republic of China, which was established by the people under the leadership of the CPC, must closely rely on the people in governing the country and managing society. The CPC carries out its mass line in its work, that is to say, it stays committed to doing everything for the masses and relying on them, following the principle of “from the masses, to the masses,” and translating its correct proposals into people’s conscious actions. The Constitution of the People’s Republic of China stipulates that all power of the state belongs to the people, and all state organs and employees must rely on their support, keep in close touch with them, listen to their opinions and suggestions, accept their oversight, and work hard to serve them. Both the CPC and state organs must follow the mass line and rely heavily on the people in their exercise of state power.

“政之所兴在顺民心，政之所废在逆民心。”一个政党，一个政权，其前途命运最终取决于人心向背。中国共产党、中华人民共和国的全部发展历程都告诉我们，中国共产党、中华人民共和国之所以能够取得事业的成功，靠的是始终保持同人民群众的血肉联系、代表最广大人民根本利益。如果脱离群众、失去人民拥护和支持，最终也会走向失败。我们必须把人民利益放在第一位，任何时候任何情况下，与人民群众同呼吸共命运的立场不能变，全心全意为人民服务的宗旨不能忘，坚信群众是真正英雄的历史唯物主义观点不能丢。

As the Chinese saying goes, “The rise or fall of a political power depends on whether it accommodates the people’s will.” The future of a political party or government ultimately rests on popular support. The whole course of the development of the CPC and the People’s Republic reveals that the progress we have made in our cause has relied on our always having maintained close ties with the people and our representing of the fundamental interests of the greatest possible majority of the people. However, if we become divorced from the people and lose their support, that cause will be doomed to failure. We must put the people’s interests first. Under no circumstances can we ever alter our standpoint of breathing the same air as and sharing a common future with the people, nor can we forget that our purpose is to serve the people wholeheartedly, nor can we discard the view of historical materialism that the people are the real heroes.

全心全意为人民服务，始终代表最广大人民根本利益，是我们能够实行和发展协商民主的重要前提和基础。中国共产党党章规定：中国共产党除了工人阶级和最广大人民群众的利益，没有自己特殊的利益。中国共产党及其领导的国家是代表最广大人民根本利益的，其一切理论和路线方针政策，其一切工作部署和工作安排，都应该来自人民，都应该为人民利益而制定和实施。在这个大政治前提下，我们应该也能够广泛听取人民内部各方面的意见和建议。在中国共产党统一领导下，通过多种形式的协商，广泛听取意见和建议，广泛接受批评和监督，可以广泛达成决策和工作的最大共识，有效克服党派和利益集团为自己的利益相互竞争甚至相互倾轧的弊端；可以广泛畅通各种利益要求和诉求进入决策程序的渠道，有效克服不同政治力量为了维护和争取自己的利益固执己见、排斥异己的弊端；可以广泛形成发现和改正失误和错误的机制，有效克服决策中情况不明、自以为是的弊端；可以广泛形成人民群众参与各层次管理和治理的机制，有效克服人民群众在国家政治生活和社会治理中无法表达、难以参与的弊端；可以广泛凝聚全社会推进改革发展的智慧和力量，有效克服各项政策和工作共识不高、无以落实的弊端。这就是中国社会主义协商民主的独特优势所在。

Serving the people wholeheartedly and always representing the fundamental interests of the greatest possible majority of the people are the important preconditions and foundation for the implementation and development of deliberative democracy. It is stipulated in the Constitution of the CPC that the CPC has no special interests of its own outside of the interests of the working class and the greatest possible majority of the people. The CPC and the state it leads represent the fundamental interests of the greatest possible majority of the people, and all of their theories, lines, principles, policies, and work plans should come from the people and should be formulated and implemented for the people’s interests. With this as our major political premise, we have the obligation, and ability to listen extensively to comments and suggestions from all sectors of society. 

By extensively listening to suggestions and recommendations and accepting criticism and oversight through various forms of deliberation, we will, under the CPC’s unified leadership, be able to reach the broadest possible consensus on all decisions we make and on all our work, and in doing so, ensure that factional competition and even bitter disagreement between parties and between interest groups can be avoided. We will be able to have all demands on matters affecting the interests of all sides heard before decisions are made so that political forces do not remain fixed in their own opinions or reject others with different views for the sake of their own interests. We will be able to put in place broad-based mechanisms for spotting and correcting errors so that decisions are not made without a clear understanding of the circumstances, or on the basis of belief in one’s own infallibility. We will be able to form mechanisms for ensuring people’s participation in administration and governance at all levels in order to effectively overcome the problems of the people being unable to voice their opinions and finding it difficult to take an active part in the country’s political activities and social governance. We will also be able to pool the wisdom and strength of the whole of society together to advance reform and development, effectively overcoming any problems with our decisions and work not being carried out for lack of consensus. This is where the unique strength of our socialist deliberative democracy lies.