Over the past 35 years, China's socio-economic development has relied on reform and opening-up. Now, the country is confronting conundrums, risks and challenges in its course of development. The only way to ensure sustained and healthy socio-economic development is to deepen reform and opening-up. 2014 marks a new era of comprehensively deepening reforms at several levels: Political reform will establish restrictions and stricter monitoring of the political power structure and expand people's right to challenge policy-makers and participate in political decisions; judicial reform will enhance judicial fairness; and economic reform will intensify efforts to promote industrial restructuring, transformation and upgrading.

The Century Corridor, a skywalk in the financial district of Lujiazui in Pudong, Shanghai.

Winds of Democracy Sweep the Country

NOWADAYS in China anyone – man or woman, urban or rural resident – can make their voice heard. They can vote for the representative they trust, assert their legitimate rights, and exert influence within their community or social group. This situation supersedes the past one where fixed mindset prevailed of unquestioningly obeying leaders and excessive caution in words and actions.

Democracy at the grassroots level in China is reflected in a span of processes that include authorization, decision-making, participation, deliberation and supervision. They constitute a complete structure and system whose social function becomes steadily more important.

Democracy at the grassroots level is an important part of people's democracy in China. Its expansion in scope and depth consolidates the foundations of the country's economic and social development. It also signals proactive reforms to China's political system.