China Party for Public Interest
Encyclopedia
The Zhigongdang of China (ZGD) is one of the eight legally recognised political parties in the People's Republic of China
that follow the direction of the Communist Party of China
(CPC) and are member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
.
The China Zhi Gong Party derives from the overseas Hung Society organisation "Hung Society Zhigong Hall", based in San Francisco, USA. This organisation was one of the key supporters of Sun Yat-sen
in his revolutionary efforts to overthrow the Qing dynasty
.
The party was founded on October 1925 in San Francisco, and was led by Chen Jiongming
and Tang Jiyao
, two ex-Kuomintang
warlord
s that went into opposition. Their first platform was federalism
and multi-party democracy. The party moved its headquarters to Hong Kong
in 1926. After the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931 it began engaging in anti-Japanese propaganda and boycotts. The party was nearly wiped out during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong
. The party turned to the left during its third party congress in 1947. Today composed of returned overseas Chinese
, their relatives, and noted figures and scholars who have overseas ties.
After the People's Republic of China was founded, at the invitation of the CPC, representatives of the CZGP attended the First Plenary Session of the CPPCC in 1949. They participated in drawing up the CPPCC Common Program and electing the Central People's Government. Since then, the CZGP has made an important contribution to implementing overseas Chinese policies and strengthening ties with Hong Kong
and Macau
compatriots as well as overseas Chinese for the reunification of the motherland.
On occasions, the party appears to be used as a convenient intermediary for contacts with certain foreign interests. For example, when a delegation of Paraguay
an politicians visited Beijing in 2001 and met Li Peng
(despite Paraguay having diplomatic relations not with PRC but with ROC in Taiwan), it was invited not by the PRC government or the Communist Party, but by the Zhi Gong Party.
In April 2007, Wan Gang
, Deputy Chair of the Zhi Gong Party Central Committee, was appointed Technology Minister of the People's Republic of China. This was the first non-Communist Party ministerial appointment in China since the 1950s.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
that follow the direction of the Communist Party of China
Communist Party of China
The Communist Party of China , also known as the Chinese Communist Party , is the founding and ruling political party of the People's Republic of China...
(CPC) and are member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [], shortened as 人民政协, Rénmín Zhèngxié, i.e. "People's PCC"; or just 政协, Zhèngxié, i.e. "The PCC"), abbreviated CPPCC, is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China...
.
The China Zhi Gong Party derives from the overseas Hung Society organisation "Hung Society Zhigong Hall", based in San Francisco, USA. This organisation was one of the key supporters of Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese doctor, revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is frequently referred to as the "Father of the Nation" , a view agreed upon by both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China...
in his revolutionary efforts to overthrow the Qing dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
.
The party was founded on October 1925 in San Francisco, and was led by Chen Jiongming
Chen Jiongming
Chen Jiongming was a revolutionary figure in the early periods of the Republic of China. Chen Jiongming was born in 1878 at Haifeng, Guangdong, China....
and Tang Jiyao
Tang Jiyao
Tang Jiyao was a Chinese general and warlord of Yunnan during the Warlord Era of Republican China. Tang Jiyao was military governor of Yunnan from 1913-1927.-Life:...
, two ex-Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
warlord
Warlord
A warlord is a person with power who has both military and civil control over a subnational area due to armed forces loyal to the warlord and not to a central authority. The term can also mean one who espouses the ideal that war is necessary, and has the means and authority to engage in war...
s that went into opposition. Their first platform was federalism
Chinese federalism
Chinese federalism refers to political theories which argue that China's central government either does or should devolve large amounts of power to local entities....
and multi-party democracy. The party moved its headquarters to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in 1926. After the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931 it began engaging in anti-Japanese propaganda and boycotts. The party was nearly wiped out during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong
Japanese occupation of Hong Kong
The Japanese occupation of Hong Kong began after the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Mark Young, surrendered the territory of Hong Kong to Japan on 25 December 1941 after 18 days of fierce fighting by British and Canadian defenders against overwhelming Japanese Imperial forces. The occupation lasted...
. The party turned to the left during its third party congress in 1947. Today composed of returned overseas Chinese
Overseas Chinese
Overseas Chinese are people of Chinese birth or descent who live outside the Greater China Area . People of partial Chinese ancestry living outside the Greater China Area may also consider themselves Overseas Chinese....
, their relatives, and noted figures and scholars who have overseas ties.
After the People's Republic of China was founded, at the invitation of the CPC, representatives of the CZGP attended the First Plenary Session of the CPPCC in 1949. They participated in drawing up the CPPCC Common Program and electing the Central People's Government. Since then, the CZGP has made an important contribution to implementing overseas Chinese policies and strengthening ties with Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
compatriots as well as overseas Chinese for the reunification of the motherland.
On occasions, the party appears to be used as a convenient intermediary for contacts with certain foreign interests. For example, when a delegation of Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
an politicians visited Beijing in 2001 and met Li Peng
Li Peng
Li Peng served as the fourth Premier of the People's Republic of China, between 1987 and 1998, and the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body, from 1998 to 2003. For much of the 1990s Li was ranked second in the Communist Party of China ...
(despite Paraguay having diplomatic relations not with PRC but with ROC in Taiwan), it was invited not by the PRC government or the Communist Party, but by the Zhi Gong Party.
In April 2007, Wan Gang
Wan Gang
Wan Gang is a Chinese expert on automobiles, former president of Tongji University and the Minister of Science and Technology of PRC.-Biography:Wan graduated from Northeast Forestry University...
, Deputy Chair of the Zhi Gong Party Central Committee, was appointed Technology Minister of the People's Republic of China. This was the first non-Communist Party ministerial appointment in China since the 1950s.