Chinese governance stays true to its mission

The new mission of political parties

By Tamara Duisenova

Throughout history, political parties have been more than just participants in political systems. They are institutional vehicles through which societies respond to the challenges of the time.

During the formation and consolidation of nations, political parties united people around a shared vision of national development. Their historical mission, therefore, has never been limited to winning elections. Rather, it has been to forge social consensus about the future.

Every era places different demands on political institutions. The 20th century was characterized by political parties mobilizing hundreds of millions of people in pursuit of national goals.

Today, the political landscape has changed. People now have instant access to information and unprecedented opportunities to voice their opinions. They no longer seek merely to be heard — they aspire to help shape decisions.

Citizens want a say in setting priorities for urban and rural development, participating in the allocation of public resources, contributing to national policymaking discussions, and overseeing the implementation of public decisions.

Against this backdrop, the historical mission of political parties is evolving. Today's political parties must do more than represent social interests; they must also build effective mechanisms that enable citizens to participate in national governance.

In the interconnected world, political parties shoulder responsibilities that extend well beyond their domestic roles.

They are also becoming important actors in public diplomacy — promoting mutual understanding among nations, facilitating the exchange of governance experience and fostering trust, without which sustainable development cannot be achieved.

We attach great importance to the development of the China-Central Asia dialogue mechanism and firmly believe that closer cooperation between political parties will significantly contribute to strengthening friendship between our peoples.

The author is the director of the Academy of Political Management of Kazakhstan and the former deputy prime minister of Kazakhstan. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.

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