Whole-process People’s Democracy: Visible and Tangible Democracy

What constitutes good democracy? This is a question many developing countries continue to explore as they pursue their own paths to modernisation. In China, democracy is not an abstract concept confined to textbooks. Rather, it is a tangible and participatory governance practice involving over 1.4 billion people—visible in everyday life and embedded in every stage of governance, from national decision-making to community affairs. This has given rise to what is known as whole-process people’s democracy.

Full Coverage: From Equal Participation to No Voice Left Unheard
Every citizen enjoys the right to participate equally in state affairs. The system of people’s congresses, China’s fundamental political system, ensures that major national decisions are made through established legal procedures by the National People’s Congress (NPC).
“Full coverage” is reflected in the broad-based composition of deputies. From the national to the township level, China has established a five-tier system of people’s congresses, with more than 2.77 million deputies in total. Of these, approximately 2.63 million serve at the county and township levels (accounting for nearly 95%) and are all directly elected by voters, forming the world’s largest grassroots democratic practice. The 14th NPC comprises 2,878 deputies, with workers and farmers making up more than 16%. Frontline labourers serve alongside government officials, scientists and entrepreneurs, jointly performing their duties.
“Full coverage” is also reflected in the protection of the rights of specific groups. Among the deputies to the 14th NPC, 442 are from ethnic minority groups, accounting for nearly 15%, with all 55 ethnic minorities represented. Even minor ethnic groups, such as the Hezhe people with a population of fewer than 10,000 have a voice at the highest level of national governance. To ensure equal participation, accessible services are provided (for example, Braille versions of the government work report and the draft outline of the Five-Year Plan are made available to visually challenged deputies) ensuring that those who cannot see are equally empowered to be heard.

Genuine Consultation: From Neighbourhood Discussions to National Governance
The process of formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan itself exemplifies the whole-process people’s democracy. From May to June last year, public opinions were solicited online, resulting in over 3.11 million valid submissions. These were distilled into more than 1,500 constructive suggestions across 27 areas, many of which ranging from pension adjustments to rural irrigation improvements were incorporated into the national development blueprint.
Before being submitted for deliberation, the draft Environmental Code underwent four rounds of public consultation, drawing input from over 7,000 participants and generating more than 20,000 comments. In addition, 30 field research visits and 17 thematic consultation sessions were conducted to ensure that public concerns were accurately reflected.
China practices a system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The CPC works closely with other political parties and individuals without party affiliation to pool wisdom and build consensus. Last year, President Xi Jinping chaired three symposiums with non-CPC representatives to solicit views on economic policy and proposals for the 15th Five-Year Plan.
Consultative democracy in China is also open to the world. Foreign nationals living and working in China are often invited to participate in policy discussions. For example, in Chongqing, 63 international students from 10 countries were invited to offer suggestions on the draft Environmental Code.

Effective Implementation: From Public Expectations to Policy Action
In China, public input leads to tangible outcomes—every concern is addressed and every suggestion is followed through. In 2025, departments under the State Council handled 8,754 proposals submitted by NPC deputies and 4,868 proposals from members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). More than 4,900 suggestions were adopted, resulting in over 2,200 policy measures, turning many valuable ideas into concrete policies that benefit millions of households.
Democracy ultimately aims to improve people’s lives. In Shanghai, a suggestion from citizens with disabilities—that accessibility facilities should be tested by users themselves—was incorporated into development planning, leading to improved evaluation mechanisms. In Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, the optimisation of bus routes enabled more than 5,200 households to enjoy convenient public transportation at their doorstep. By addressing everyday concerns with precision and care, grassroots governance ensures that policies are both tangible and impactful.

Continuity: From Periodic Deliberation to Everyday Engagement
Democracy in China is not limited to periodic political events; it is embedded in daily governance as an institutionalised and routine practice. In Beijing, the municipal service hotline operates around the clock with over 1,700 staff members, having handled 180 million public requests over the past seven years, with a resolution rate of 97.3 per cent. The “Message Board for Leaders” platform on People’s Daily Online has responded to and processed over 5 million public submissions.
Across the country, digital tools such as QR codes for public feedback allow citizens to report issues—from neighbourhood disturbances to illegal parking—with immediate response from local authorities. By the end of 2025, the Legislative Affairs Commission of the NPC Standing Committee had established 60 grassroots legislative outreach points, while over 7,800 such contact points had been set up at the provincial and municipal levels, enabling public input to directly inform the legislative process.
At the community level, mechanisms such as courtyard meetings and informal consultation forums bring residents together to deliberate on matters ranging from urban planning to waste management, ensuring that decisions are made collectively.
In essence, whole-process people’s democracy places the people at the centre of governance. It is not an abstract institutional design, but a living practice where suggestions are translated into laws, where a single phone call can resolve everyday concerns, and where each vote helps elect representatives who speak for the people. From major national policies to the minutiae of daily life, public participation is present at every step, and every decision strives to reflect the will of the people.

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The writer is Ambassador of China to Bangladesh