Most Chinese say democracy most important value

Weary with the one-party system run by the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), most Chinese have identified democracy and equality as the most important values, an official survey said.
A bluebook-- analysing Chinese society was published by the state-run Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS)-- said more than 40 per cent of respondents think that equality and democracy are the most important values that contribute to a good society.
The book included a poll asking people to choose certain social values that they think are necessary for a good society among the 19 choices offered.
The poll surveyed more than 10,206 people in 31 regions.

It found that equality, democracy, justice, civilised behaviour, prosperity and harmony were widely seen as the most important values, with over 40 per cent of respondents saying that these elements are necessary for a good society, state- run Global Times reported.
The results appeared significant as they demonstrated the fatigue over the one-party system administered by the CPC and arrests of hundreds of officials for corruption and abuse of power in the latest crackdown.

The survey found that those who chose democracy tended to be better educated.
Over 47 per cent of urban residents said democracy was important, while only 37.8 per cent of rural residents chose this option.

Respondents with a college or other higher education degree tended to favour democracy over other social values.
White collar workers, government employees, company managers and students think most highly of democracy, the poll said, while working class and rural respondents tended to select justice as being more important for society.
In addition to democracy, equality was also widely chosen as the most important societal value by individuals born after 1990, according to the CASS report.