South China's Guangdong Province, which has witnessed the country's fastest economic growth, will finish its second round of direct elections for village heads in the first half of this year. By the end of February this year, direct elections were completed in 2,913 villages in Guangdong, which accounted for 14 percent of the total.
Seen as grassroots democratic practice in China, direct elections at village level, the lowest unit of administration in China, have been carried out for 14 years.
The first round of direct elections was finished and village committees were set up in every village across Guangdong in 1999, which has witnessed substantially improved democratic and legal construction in its rural areas.
By the end of February this year, direct elections were completed in 2,913 villages in Guangdong, which accounted for 14 percent of the total.
In these election villages, 98 percent of eligible voters exercised their franchise.
(People's Daily March 18, 2002)
