China's Premier: "China needs democracy"

Some from within the Chinese Communist Party are asking for more democracy.

Reforming the Communist Party itself is vital says China's Premier

China's Premier Wen Jiabao says China must change its system of absolute power and introduce more democracy.

He made the comments at the World Economic Forum meeting of business leaders in the Chinese city of Dalian, reports the BBC.

Wen, who is due to retire in just over a year, has spoken several times in recent months about the need for reform.

But his comments are rarely reported in the state-controlled media so most Chinese are unaware of them.

In the past year or so, Wen, number three in the Communist hierarchy, has spoken several times, to carefully chosen audiences, about the need to reform China politically.

He told business leaders that reforming the party and the country's leadership system were "urgent tasks".

Wen Jiabao said the most important task for a ruling party was to act in accordance with the constitution and the law.

Communist Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao wants
more democracy for the nation.

"To do this the party must not represent the government, and change the phenomenon of absolute power and excessive concentration of power," he said.

"Thus, the party's and the country's leadership system must be reformed."

Mr Wen spoke about expanding forms of democracy beyond village committees.

"If people can rule a village well, they can manage a county well, even rule a town well," Wen said.

However, he said it was more practical to expand democracy firstly within the Communist party.

Wen may also be trying to nudge China's next generation of leaders towards change.

But he is thought to be out of step with his colleagues on the ruling politburo, and has little chance of bringing about reforms himself at this late stage.

In recent months, the party has feared the revolutions that have toppled dictators in North Africa could spread to China.

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