File photo of Ding Zhongli. [Photo: Xinhua]

A non-Communist party official says multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China is essential to the country's development.

Ding Zhongli, chairman of the Central Committee of the China Democratic League, has made the statement on the sidelines of the ongoing "two sessions" in Beijing.

"This system is the creation of China, a kind of creative wisdom and institutional innovation. It is different from the one-party system. It is also different from the multi-party competitive system of western countries. It is a multi-party cooperative political system under the leadership of the Communist Party of China".

Ding also says the multi-party cooperation system suits China's national conditions, as it enables the ruling and other parties of China to work together in planning the future development of the nation.

"This multi-party cooperation system has its own advantages or features. It conforms to the history, tradition and reality of China. It is a constantly developing and perfecting process."

There are eight non-Communist political parties in China, including the China Democratic League, the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuo-min-tang and the China National Democratic construction Association.

They also participate in the country's political consultation, deliberation of state affairs, and democratic supervision.

Many members of these parties are also members of the national legislature and top political advisory body.

The parties conduct their supervisory investigations on many societal and national issues, the results of which are often taken into consideration by the CPC central committee and the State Council in formulating policies and laws.