China Rules Out West's Democracy

China will never have Western style democracy, a senior official said on the eve of the country's most important political meeting in five years. Some party members have called for political changes to accompany economic reforms, which have transformed China. Mr. Li, spokesman for the Communist Party's 17th Congress, said political reform is an important component of our comprehensive reform. We have advanced political reform without pause. But he quickly quashed any idea that China could eventually become a multi-party liberal democracy. He said they would never copy the Western model of political system, as he gave details about the congress, which meets ever five years. His statement is not surprising as other senior party leaders have voiced similar comments in the past.