China opens political advisory session

CPPCC National Committee Chairman Jia Qinglin delivered a report on the work of the CPPCC National Committee's Standing Committee over the past year.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee  of the Chinese People's Political Consultative  Conference (CPPCC), delivers a report on the  work of the CPPCC National Committee's Standing  Committee at the Great Hall of the People in  Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2009. The  Second Session of the 11th CPPCC National  Committee opens on Tuesday.(Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

"The CPPCC (last year)...made important contributions to building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, accelerating socialist modernization and promoting the great cause of peaceful reunification of the motherland, and set this National Committee off to a sound start," Jia said.

The top political advisor said the year 2009 marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of New China and the CPPCC and is crucial for properly responding to the global financial crisis and promoting further development of the cause of the Party and the country.

"We must...accord highest priority to maintaining steady and relatively rapid economic development, take safeguarding social harmony and stability as our primary responsibility (this year)," Jia said.

The political consultants raised 5,056 proposals on politics, economy, science, ecological conservation and other issues into file over the past year, of which 99.03 percent had received due consideration or had been handled in line with China's laws and regulations, as of Feb. 20, 2009, said Zhang Rongming, vice-chairwoman of the CPPCC National Committee.  

Top Communist Party of China (CPC) and state leaders Hu Jintao, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang were present at the session's opening.

Founded in 1949, the CPPCC consists of elite members of the Chinese society who are willing to serve the think tank for the government and for the country's legislative and judicial organs.

As an open forum where the CPC, non-Communist parties and people without party affiliation discuss state affairs freely and on an equal footing, the CPPCC has been the manifestation of China's socialist democracy.

Editor:Zhang Ning