Official statistics show 13 non-CPC members serve as vice-ministers in ministries and commissions of the State Council.

Non-CPC members serve as vice-president of the Supreme People's Court and deputy prosecutor-general of China's Supreme People's Procuratorate.

The list could go on, proving the CPC values its cooperation with non-Communist parties and the role of people with no party affiliation.

Overall, 27 non-CPC members serve as provincial vice-governors, vice-chairpersons of autonomous regions, deputy mayors of municipalities directly under the central government and assistants to chief officials in these areas.

And 13 non-CPC members serve as deputy mayors in key municipalities between provincial and prefectural level, 203 as leading officials in provincial government departments, 280 as leading officials in prefectures and prefecture-level cities and 6,419 as leading officials at county level. The cooperation is not limited to promoting capable non-CPC personnel to important positions but is also practiced across the board.

When making vital policies and personnel arrangements, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council consult China's eight non-Communist parties and individuals with no affiliation.

More than 150 such consultations have been held in the past 13 years, resulting in sounder decisions and policies thanks to suggestions set forth by non-CPC members.

More than 120,000 non-CPC members are deputies to various levels of People's Congresses and over 240,000 are members of various levels of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Nine vice-chairpersons of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and 16 vice-chairpersons of the CPPCC National Committee are non-CPC members.

(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2002)