Wu Weihua elected chairman of Jiusan Society

BEIJING -- Wu Weihua was elected chairman of the Central Committee of the Jiusan Society at its 11th National Congress, which concluded Thursday.

Wu, 61, is director of the national key laboratory of plant physiology and biochemistry, and director of the academic committee of China Agricultural University. He is also an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

"The Jiusan Society will, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, strive to contribute to securing victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and realizing China's rejuvenation," Wu said, addressing the closing ceremony of the 11th national congress.

"The society should be developed into a participating political party of socialism with Chinese characteristics that is more firm in ideology, more solid in performing its duties and stronger in organization," Wu said.

The Jiusan Society is one of China's eight major non-Communist political parties. Founded in 1945, it is composed mainly of senior and mid-level intellectuals engaged in science, technology, culture, education, and medical and health work.

As of June this year, the society had 167,000 members, among whom 61 are academicians of CAS and the Chinese Academy of Engineering. More than 2,300 are deputies to people's congresses at various levels, and more than 11,800 are political advisors.