My appointment is a sign of progress, says non-party man

Wan Gang, the first non-Communist Party minister since the mid-1950s, said his appointment showcased the progress made in the pursuit of Chinese-style democracy.

'This is a very important step in the development of China's political system and greater democracy,' the minister of science and technology said at his first press conference since his April appointment. 'I regard it as a big challenge because while I have an academic background and I was engineer and president of a university, I don't have much experience working inside a government ministry.'

The appointment of Mr Wan, 55, an automotive engineer trained in Germany and a former president of Shanghai's Tongji University, has been hailed as a landmark in mainland politics.

It came amid growing calls in the country and from within the party for substantive political reforms. Non-party members previously only took ceremonial posts and their highest ranking was invariably no more than deputy minister or deputy governor.

The media-friendly minister carefully commented on the political system and his Communist Party colleagues. 'I have experience in carrying out multi-party co-operation because I was one of the few university presidents from outside the party and I had a smooth co-operation with the university's party chief.

'Our decision-making was definitely democratic, collective and scientific. It is essential for a non-party president to consult with colleagues, whether they are party members or not.