The head of the association that represents the private sector in China said yesterday that an amendment to the constitution to be passed by parliament is proof that the Communist Party is listening to it.
Jing Shuping, 80, is chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and a vice-chairman of the CPPCC.
He praised the amendment to the constitution, due to be passed by the NPC. It will redefine the private economy from a 'complement' to the 'socialist market economy' to an 'important part' of it, and promises government protection 'for the legal interests and rights of the private economy'.
'It was the [Communist] Party that proposed the amendment,' he said. 'Our voices have been heard.' He said 44 heads of private companies were delegates to the CPPCC and 47 were delegates to the NPC and the numbers were rising.
'It is not a question of the numbers but whether your voice is heard. Our wishes have been expressed and have been respected.' He said the parliament of the Kuomintang that ruled China before 1949 had no entrepreneurs, although the party was quick to use money from businessmen in its political campaigns.
'Now we have status and take part in decision-making,' he said.