The number of non-Communist Party people in China's political arena is on the rise.

More than 180,000 non-Communist Party deputies now serve in national or local people's congresses, China's legislative bodies, up 50 percent over that five years ago, according to the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

The number of non-CPC members serving on national or local political consultative conferences has also risen to 340,000 from 240,000 five years ago.

The department said currently 19 ministerial positions of the central authorities are held by non-CPC members, up 26 percent on five years ago.

Zhou Shuzhen, a professor with the People's University of China, said that drafting elite non-CPC members into China's political organs and into the core leadership is a "rational choice" by the CPC.

"As China's market economy develops and society diversifies, not all talented people join the CPC," Zhou said. "People with political nous and management capability are valuable human resources for the society."

The CPC Central Committee has issued a series of directives and recommendations in recent years to promote non-CPC members to political positions.

In 2005, the CPC Central Committee issued a directive, requiring all local governments and departments at or above county level to open top jobs to non-CPC members and non-politically affiliated people.

The directive also demands the State Council, the country's highest administrative body, pay particular attention to appointing non-CPC members and non-politically affiliated candidates to ministerial positions or their equivalents.

At the ongoing election of delegates for the CPC's 17th National Congress, scheduled for later this year, provincial CPC committees are required, for the first time, to listen to the opinions of non-Communist parties before a shortlist is made.

To encourage the participation of non-CPC parties in state affairs, the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and government departments have held 18 meetings since 2002 to brief non-CPC party members on key decisions and solicit their opinions.

Zhen Xiaoying, a professor with the Central Institute of Socialism, said non-CPC members used to focus mainly on educational and cultural sectors. "But the posts assumed by non-CPC members in government now cover much wider areas."

More than 32,000 non-CPC members hold leading political positions at or above county chief-level, according to the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee.

Source: Xinhua