Editor’s note: Zhu Weiqun, Director of the Ethnic and Religious Affairs Office of the CPPCC Committee talked about united front work in the new situation in his interview with Global Times. Following is an excerpt:

To consolidate and develop the broadest possible patriotic united front is decided to be an important aspect of strengthening and improving Party’s leadership in the 13th Five-Year Plan(2016-2020). Not long ago, the CPC Central Committee issued Regulations on United Front Work (Trial), which explicitly stated that the CPC recognizes the trend of diversified development of the Chinese society, and that the united front will not only exist for a long time, but continue to be strengthened and become more standardized and open under new historical conditions.

In the era of Chinese revolution, the CPC always put the united front work on top of its policy and strategy agenda in order to secure survival and development. But after the wars, most of the socialist countries in the world no longer implemented this policy with relevant organizations either dissolved or existing in name only. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, some believed that the united front was no longer necessary. Three decades after the founding of New China, the importance of the united front decreased and was increasingly viewed as existing only in form. With a trend of diversified social development after the reform and opening-up, the CPC has been seeking to build consensus and unity around national revitalization by mobilizing various social forces under its leadership. Therefore, the united front remains indispensable to achieve the CPC’s great objectives.

In China’s political operation framework, the departments of ethnic and religious affairs are not only parts of the government, but also an important player in the united front work. The Regulations provides that heads of the ethnic and religious affairs departments, if qualified, can also serve as deputies of the united front work department of the CPC at different levels. The Regulations also announced the establishment of a Central Working Group on the United Front Work with its office set in the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee. This further demonstrates the role of the CPC’s central leadership in the united front work. The creation of an overall united front work landscape is bound to have a profound impact on the future of the CPC’s united front work.

Should "dissidents" be included in the targets of the united front work?

Dissent belongs to the scope of ideologies and is not a social identity in its own right. Moreover, dissent may change from time to time and is highly uncertain. Therefore, there is no question of whether or not "dissidents" should be included in the scope of united front work. The bottom line of all dissidents is to observe the Constitution and law.