China to start reelection of county, township people's congresses

China will reelect its county and township people's congresses from July 1, 2006 to December 31, 2007, in accordance with stipulations in the Constitution and the Election Law.

More than two million deputies to the county people's congresses and deputies to township people's congresses will be reelected in the upcoming 18 months.

Around 900 million voters will involve in the reelection of county people's congresses and more than 600 million voters will partake in the reelection of township people's congresses, according to a source from the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) or the top legislature.

An official with the NPC Standing Committee said the simultaneous reelections of the county people's congress and township people's congress is a major event in the country's political life and an important practice for developing socialist democracy.

"The smooth reelection of the county people's congresses and township people's congresses is of great importance to consolidating the foundation of the state power, the building a socialist harmonious society and strengthening the ruling capacity of the Communist party of China (CPC)," he acknowledged.

He said three guiding principles should be abided by in the course of the reelection. First, adherence to the CPC leadership and, second, promotion of democracy. The voters' right to elect and deputies should be fully respected and safeguarded. Thirdly, strictly observance of the relevant laws. The work of reelection should strictly follow the stipulations in Constitution and other relevant laws.

Source: Xinhua