From a Traffic Signal to Whole-Process People’s Democracy

At a busy intersection near schools and a nursing home in Shanghai, congestion and safety risks had long troubled residents, particularly during the morning rush. There was no dedicated left-turn signal, and vehicles turning left would block oncoming traffic, creating bottlenecks and raising the risk of accidents.

A member of the district committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference noticed the issue during her daily commute. What followed, officials say, is a textbook example of how China’s “whole-process people’s democracy” functions in practice.

She raised the issue with local traffic police and convened consultations involving officials and community stakeholders. A left-turn traffic light was installed. Congestion improved – but not enough. The matter did not end there. Further discussions led to extending the green-light interval by ten seconds and redesigning lane usage to separate turning traffic. The result is smoother flow, improved safety, and a tangible solution shaped through consultation rather than decree.

The case was presented to a Bangladeshi media delegation during a recent visit to Shanghai, offering an entry point into a broader explanation of China’s governance model, described as participatory and consultative.

A Window and Five Platforms

The delegation visited a demonstration site for what Chinese officials call “whole-process people’s democracy.” The site, both a working hub and public exhibit, is described as “one window and five platforms,” where visitors can see how consultation mechanisms operate.

On a wall displaying real-time data, officials pointed to metrics that they say illustrate the system’s scale: more than 260 consultation sessions held since the site opened in January 2024, alongside visits by numerous foreign delegations. “After today, your visit will be added,” one woman official told the media group.

The site allows citizens and visitors alike to submit suggestions digitally on selected topics, including long-term development plans. It is, officials say, an attempt to make governance visible and interactive.

About CPPCC, one official during a briefing explained, “The CPPCC is part of the national governance system. But it does not have decision-making or legislative power. Our role is to provide proposals and suggestions, and to address issues of public concern through consultation.”

Origin of CPPCC

The system traces its roots to September 1949, when the first plenary session of the CPPCC was convened ahead of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. That meeting brought together representatives from political parties, organisations, and various social sectors to deliberate on the establishment of the new state, the officials said.

It marked the beginning of what China describes as a system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Over the following decades, the CPPCC evolved into what officials call a “broad patriotic united front organisation,” intended to bring together diverse voices within a shared political framework.

Today, the Shanghai Committee of the CPPCC comprises more than 800 members drawn from 32 sectors, including science and technology, business, environmental protection, and social organisations. Members are selected through consultation and are expected to contribute expertise rather than represent constituencies in the electoral sense.

How CPPCC Works

At its core, the CPPCC operates through consultation. Members conduct research, organise seminars, and submit proposals on issues ranging from national development strategies to local community concerns.

One of its key roles is advising on China’s five-year plans—central policy frameworks that outline economic and social priorities. China’s first such plan was launched in 1953, and 2026 marks the beginning of its 16th cycle.

Officials told the delegation that the planning process involves extensive input. “We organise our members to conduct research and hold seminars,” one official said. “We listen to what society needs so that better plans can be developed.”

In preparation for the current planning cycle, hundreds of seminars were held, including sessions with workers from emerging sectors such as food delivery. Shanghai alone has around 200,000 delivery drivers, officials noted, arguing that their perspectives are essential to policymaking. As a result, delivery drivers are also members of the CPPCC.

This emphasis on consultation is presented as a defining feature of China’s governance model – contrasted, implicitly, with electoral systems that change leadership more frequently.

“Development takes time,” one official said, drawing an analogy with raising a child. “Long-term planning requires continuity. In some countries, frequent changes in government can make this difficult.”

From Big Plans to Small Problems

While national strategies dominate headlines, officials stressed that the CPPCC’s work extends to everyday issues.

The traffic light example was one such case. Another involved transforming unused land in residential areas into “habitat gardens.” In one Shanghai neighbourhood, a neglected corner piled with rubbish had generated frequent complaints. Through consultations involving residents, designers, volunteers, and government departments, the space was redesigned into a green area with native plants.

The process was not without resistance. Some residents worried about attracting wildlife and potential safety risks. Officials said these concerns were addressed through further consultations and practical measures, ultimately leading to broader acceptance.

“The key is that people’s opinions are heard,” an official said. “When that happens, they feel ownership and are more willing to maintain the project.”

Similarly, a proposal to build an industrial museum—highlighting Shanghai’s role as the birthplace of modern Chinese industry—took years to materialise. First suggested by CPPCC members, it faced funding challenges and was initially rejected. Members persisted, raising the issue repeatedly over seven years before construction finally began.

Research and Representation

Officials emphasised that proposals must be grounded in research. Last year alone, CPPCC-led teams in Shanghai visited more than 170 enterprises across sectors such as manufacturing, real estate, foreign investment, and biotechnology.

Consultations also extend to expatriates living in the city. In a district with a population of around 30,000 – half of them foreign residents – officials said they actively seek input from non-Chinese participants.

One example cited was a South Korean expert in traditional Chinese medicine who, after visiting the demonstration site, said she had gained a clearer understanding of how the system works. According to officials, her takeaway was that democracy, in this context, means having opportunities to speak and to be heard.

Functions of the CPPCC

Officials outlined three main functions of the CPPCC: political consultation, which involves offering advice on major policies and initiatives; democratic supervision, meaning it monitors how policies are carried out and provides feedback; and participation in state affairs, where it contributes to broader discussions on governance.

Unlike legislative bodies, the CPPCC does not pass laws. Instead, it acts as what officials describe as a “specialised consultative body,” providing structured channels for input from different sectors of society.

This, they argue, improves decision-making by incorporating diverse perspectives before policies are finalised.

Whole-Process People’s Democracy

The concept at the centre of the presentation—“whole-process people’s democracy”—was formally articulated in recent years but is described by Chinese officials as rooted in longstanding practices.

The idea, they said, is that public participation should not be limited to periodic voting but should occur throughout the policy cycle: from consultation and decision-making to implementation and oversight.

Xi Jinping in his book ‘Governance of China’ volume II said: “Democracy is not an ornament to be used for decoration; it is to be used to solve the problems that the people want solve.”

In practical terms, this means creating multiple channels for feedback: community meetings, digital platforms, research consultations, and sector-based discussions. It also involves integrating these inputs into formal governance processes.

From the real-time data wall to the digital suggestion platform, the demonstration site is designed to make the system tangible. Officials repeatedly emphasised openness, noting that the site welcomes international visitors and encourages questions.

At the same time, the presentation highlighted specific achievements: hundreds of consultations, thousands of proposals, and a range of projects—from traffic management to urban renewal—linked to CPPCC input.

Questions of Transferability

Whether such a model can be replicated elsewhere remains an open question. Officials acknowledged that different countries have different systems and conditions. Some, they suggested, may find it difficult to adopt long-term planning mechanisms due to political cycles. Others may interpret participation differently.

What they emphasised instead was the principle: that governance should be responsive to people’s needs and that consultation can be a means of achieving that.

By starting with a traffic light, Shanghai’s officials offered a narrative grounded in everyday experience rather than abstract theory. The message was clear: governance, in this model, is measured not only by institutions but by outcomes.

For the visiting delegation, the challenge lies in interpreting what they saw—distinguishing between presentation and practice, and assessing how the system functions beyond the demonstration site.

What remains undeniable is the effort to tell a story: one in which consultation replaces confrontation, continuity supports long-term planning, and democracy is defined less by electoral competition than by ongoing participation.

(The writer, who recently visited Shanghai, is the Diplomatic Correspondent for The New Nation.)