BEIJING, CHINA: In a speech to the Standing Committee, Chairman Wu Bangguo called on Chinese legislators to remember the “essential differences” between the Chinese system and the Western systems. He called it “maintaining the correct orientation” and described the most fundamental differences as:

“…organically integrate the leadership of the Party, the position of the people as the masters of the country and the rule of law,” Wu noted, adding “the core” is to uphold the leadership of the Party.

And later added:

“China’s system of political parties is a system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), not a Western-style multiparty system,”

Wu stressed many times that Chinese elected officials are supposed to broadly represent their constituents, and not a party.

I am curious if any of this is in response to international reports of the bickering between Democrats and Republicans that has gone on since Obama took office. Wu’s warming also sounds eerily familiar to George Washington’s feelings about political parties at the end of his tenure as President.

China Daily article: Differences stressed between China’s NPC and western systems