BEIJING, March 2 (Xinhuanet) -- The First Session of the National Committee of the First Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) was held in Beijing during Sept. 21-30, 1949. With the participation of 662 representatives from all walks of life, the session elected Mao Zedong chairman of the First CPPCC National Committee.

    The CPPCC ceased to exercise the functions as the supreme organof power with the birth of National People's Congress in September1954. Since then, the CPPCC, with its broadest representation, began to function as a patriotic united front organization.

    The annual session of the CPPCC National Committee provides themost solemn arena for political consultation in the country.

    The first sessions of the second, third and fourth CPPCC national committees were held in 1954, 1959 and 1964 and elected Zhou Enlai the chairman and Mao Zedong the honorary chairman.

    Deng Xiaoping was elected chairman of the Fifth CPPCC National Committee, which was held in Beijing during Feb. 24-March 8, 1978,with an attendance of 1,988 members, the first ever held after thecatastrophic 1966-1976 "Great Cultural Revolution".

    The First Session of the Sixth CPPCC National Committee was convened during June 4-22, 1983. With 2,039 members attending, thesession elected Deng Yingchao its chairperson.

    The Seventh CPPCC National Committee met in its first session during March 24-April 10, 1988 and elected Li Xiannian its chairman. The session was attended by 2,081 members.

    The First Session of the Eighth CPPCC National Committee was convened in Beijing during March 14-27, 1993 in Beijing with 2,093members attending. It elected Li Ruihuan its chairman.

    The First Session of the Ninth CPPCC National Committee was held in Beijing during March 3-14, 1998 in Beijing, with 2,196 members attending. It re-elected Li Ruihuan its chairman.

    The First Session of the 10th CPPCC National Committee was heldin Beijing during March 3-14, 2003, with the participation of 2,295 members. It elected Jia Qinglin its chairman.

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