Highlights of top political advisory body's work report

By (Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-03 15:38
Top Chinese political advisor Jia Qinglin delivered a report on the work of the country's top political advisory body at the opening meeting of its annual full session which started in Beijing in the Great Hall of the People Tuesday afternoon.

Following are the highlights of the Report on the Work of the Standing Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which was distributed to journalists upon the opening of the session:

Consolidating Political Unity and Cooperation

-- The CPPCC organized a variety of study and implementation activities to fully and correctly understand the series of new strategic concepts, policy decisions and arrangements laid down at the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

-- The CPPCC respected and safeguarded the democratic rights of the democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and persons without party affiliation in the CPPCC, and encouraged and supported them in actively expressing their views in CPPCC meetings on special issues and through other platforms for deliberating state affairs.

-- The central committees of the democratic parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce submitted 226 proposals and 3,966 reports on social conditions and popular sentiment, all of which received due consideration and close attention.

Making Suggestions Focusing on Economic and Social Development

-- Over the past year, the CPPCC kept a close eye on and made a follow-up analysis of economic trends and organized nine special topic forums and consultative sessions for relevant subcommittees of the National Committee to study and analyze the latest changes in the international economic environment and the latest developments in China's economic situation.

-- The CPPCC conducted investigations and studies of 55 special topics, organized 13 inspection teams for members of the Standing Committee and National Committee, and filed more than 4,700 proposals for investigation and referred them to relevant departments. These proposals served as key reference materials in Party and government policy-making.

-- The CPPCC kept focus on issues having an immediate impact on the people's well-being, and paid close attention to economic and social development in ethnic minority areas. The CPPCC organized investigation teams to conduct research in Tibet, Qinghai and Yunnan and submitted comments and suggestions on ways to safeguard national security and maintain stability in Tibet and other ethnic Tibetan areas.

Earthquake Relief and Post-Quake Reconstruction

-- On May 12, a massive earthquake that shocked the world rocked Wenchuan, Sichuan Province, inflicting untold misery on the people in the quake zone. The CPPCC resolutely carried out all policy decisions of the Central Committee concerning earthquake relief, and acted promptly to adjust its work agenda to make participation in earthquake relief efforts its most important and pressing task, and one to which it immediately devoted all its energy.

-- The CPPCC contributed money and materials worth nearly 6 billion yuan. In addition, members of CPPCC committees at all levels immediately sprang into action to participate in the earthquake relief efforts in various ways.

-- The CPPCC called a special session of the Chairperson's Council to discuss earthquake relief and post-earthquake recovery and reconstruction, studied and discussed the Master State Plan for Recovery and Reconstruction Following the Wenchuan Earthquake, and arranged for National Committee members to travel to the quake zone to conduct a survey. Many valuable comments and suggestions rewarded these efforts.

Beijing Olympics

-- The CPPCC mobilized and organized National Committee members to actively support the Olympics and Paralympics and spared no effort in their service to them. The CPPCC held the forum "Wholeheartedly Welcome the Olympics," during which it made comments and suggestions to optimize preparations and achieve the goal of a green, scientific and people-oriented Olympics.

-- National Committee members supported the games as Olympic volunteers and organizers or in other capacities, in which they did a great deal of excellent work. The CPPCC actively encouraged compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, overseas Chinese, and people of Chinese origin to contribute money to help build Olympic venues and stand up courageously in defense of the Beijing Olympic torch on its international relay.

Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese

-- The CPPCC organized inspection tours and fact-finding missions for over 100 National Committee members from Hong Kong and Macao in provincial-level administrative areas in the central and western regions and in the quake zone to help them better understand economic and social development on the mainland and strengthen cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao. The CPPCC conducted investigations and studies of the contribution the people of Hong Kong and Macao made to reform and opening up on the mainland and made suggestions on how to give them a bigger role.

-- The CPPCC arranged for inspection tours to Taiwan, invited distinguished guests from Taiwan to attend the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics, and arranged for world famous Taiwan businesspeople to visit the mainland. The CPPCC hosted a variety of groups visiting from Taiwan, totaling more than 500 people.

-- The CPPCC invited overseas Chinese representatives to attend plenary sessions of the National Committee as observers and arranged for overseas Chinese to come to China on visits and inspections. The CPPCC staged a choral concert entitled "My Chinese Heart," hosted by people from the Chinese mainland and Chinese nationals from the United States. The CPPCC solicited constructive proposals from overseas Chinese scholars and experts on how to open China yet wider.

Foreign Contacts

-- Over the past year, the CPPCC National Committee dispatched 21 missions to 33 countries for visits or meetings and hosted 14 delegations from 11 countries and two regional organizations.

-- The CPPCC actively participated in international multilateral activities under the auspices of relevant organizations.

Major Experience from Work in 2008

-- The CPPCC must take socialism with Chinese characteristics as a common conviction.

-- The CPPCC must take into account the overall interests of the Party and the country in planning and carrying out the CPPCC's work.

-- The CPPCC must put people first in the performance of all aspects of its functions.

-- The CPPCC must view broad unity an inexhaustible motive force empowering us to tackle all difficulties.

-- The CPPCC must emphasize the role of CPPCC committee members as an important basis for the CPPCC's work.

Suggestions for Next Year's Work

-- The CPPCC should energetically apply the Scientific Outlook on Development to guide and promote its work.

-- The CPPCC should work hard to promote steady and rapid economic development.

-- The CPPCC should work hard to improve the people's living standards and promoting social harmony and stability.

-- The CPPCC should work hard to strengthen the great solidarity and unity with our compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and overseas Chinese.

-- The CPPCC should strive to establish more friendly foreign contacts.
 
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