Chinese system is the ‘cat that catches most rats’, says Communist Party ahead of centenary celebrations

A white paper extolling the merits of the political system, which enshrines the CCP’s primacy, says it is a major contributor to humanity

Senior official praises the country’s ‘magnificent achievements’ and says it has avoided the problems caused by a multiparty system

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The Chinese Communist Party is gearing up for its centenary celebrations. Photo: Reuters

Published: 9:26pm, 25 Jun 2021Updated: 11:39pm, 25 Jun 2021

The Chinese Communist Party has hailed its political system as a major contributor to humanity as it prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary next week.

A white paper published by the United Front Work Department, the body responsible for relations with non-party bodies and groups inside and outside China, said the country had implemented a “new type of party political system” in which the CCP plays a leading role, with eight minor parties limited to a supporting role.

“The magnificent achievements China made in the past 70 years have fully proven that our new type of party political system is the cat that can catch the most rats,” Xu Yousheng, deputy director of the United Front Work Department told a press conference in Beijing on Friday.

The feline metaphor was borrowed from late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping, who proclaimed that no matter whether it was “yellow or white, a cat that catches mice is a good cat” – a slogan that came to symbolise his pragmatic approach to economic policy.

In the past four decades China has made major progress in eliminating poverty and risen to be the world’s second largest economy, while also becoming a technological powerhouse.

However, the political system enshrines the primacy of the Communist Party, and people do not have the opportunity to vote for an alternative ruling party or government.