Developing democracy
- 18 Jan 08, 08:17 AM
THE PEOPLE'S UNIVERSITY, BEIJING: We are at what has been billed as an event "unprecedented in China's history". Premier Wen and Gordon Brown are taking "questions" from an invited group of Chinese and English students and party stooges. One penetrating enquiry came from the chairwoman of a local village party organisation. She asked "what the Chinese government will do to continue to increase people's well being".
The premier thanked her for raising her question "sharply" and "objectively" and said how healthy it was "for the two of us to listen to our people". The rows of rather old looking students all dressed in near identical dark suits clapped enthusiastically. Good grief.
Earlier at their joint news conference I asked the premier when the Chinese people would be able to choose their own national leaders. He didn't answer specifically but pledged that China "will unswervingly develop democracy."
When I was in Beijing with Tony Blair two years ago a lively bunch of students in casual clothes posed proper questions to him. It gave me some hope that the iron grip of party control was being released. Today's event demonstrates just how far there still is to go.
