Jia Qinglin, chairman of the Tenth 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 over the past year, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 3, 2006. (Xinhua photo)

Wang Zhongyu, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), presides over the Fourth Session of the Tenth National Committee of the CPPCC, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 3, 2006. (Xinhua photo)

  

    

The Fourth Session of the Tenth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 3, 2006. (Xinhua photo)

BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhuanet) -- The Tenth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top advisory body, convened its fourth annual full session here Friday, stressing its resolute stand against "Taiwan independence" and sincere pursuit for peaceful development of the cross-Strait relations.

    "We will never tolerate 'Taiwan independence', and shall oppose and curb 'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces and activities," said Jia Qinglin , chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, while delivering a keynote report on what the advisory body did last year and what it should do in 2006.

    "We will adhere to the fundamental principles of peaceful reunification and 'one country, two systems,' and maintain and promote a peaceful and stable development of the cross-Strait relations with our utmost sincerity and greatest endeavors to strive for a prospect of peaceful reunification," Jia said.

    "We shall stick to the policies of 'Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong,' 'Macao people governing Macao' and a high degree of autonomy," said Jia, calling on CPPCC members from Hong Kong and Macao to work harder to promote long-term prosperity, stability and development of the regions.

    The chairman also stressed the significance of cooperation with returned and overseas Chinese compatriots in an effort to realize China's reunification and the revival of the Chinese nation.

    Jia confirmed the active role CPPCC members have played in assisting the government and central authorities to draft the outlines of China's 11th Five-Year (2006-2010) Program on economicand social development, saying their valuable suggestions concerning the economic growth model, energy safety, technological innovation and other vital issues have been well considered or adopted by the lawmakers.

    Over the past year, their opinions on improving social equality, morality, stability and maintaining harmony between human beings and the nature have also contributed to the on-going drive of building a harmonious society, Jia noted.

    Non-Communist parties and personages without party affiliation were playing a more active role in the CPPCC's work over the past year and the CPPCC National Committee has been making all-out efforts to create favorable conditions for them to give full play to their roles, according to Jia.

    He vowed to continue improving its organizations, mechanisms and work styles this year, and further expand its friendly relations with relative organs of other countries, and international and non-governmental organizations through visits, exchange and cooperation programs.

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

    Its main functions include conducting political consultation, exercise democratic supervision and participate in the discussion and the handling of state affairs.

    Of all the 2,280 registered CPPCC members for the annual meeting, 2,154 were present at the opening session Friday, during which Vice-Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee Luo Haocai gave a report on how the members' proposals and suggestions regarding China's reforms and development were handled last year.

    The political consultants have raised 4,660 proposals on economy, science, culture and sports, politics and social security issues since their last meeting in March, 2005, and over 99 percent have received response from relative organizations or been implemented in line with China's laws and regulations.

    Top leaders of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the state, including President Hu Jintao, top lawmaker Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao, and Zeng Qinghong, Wu Guanzheng, Li Changchun and Luo Gan were seated on the central rostrum when the session opened in the Great Hall of the People in downtown Beijing at 3 p.m. (Beijing time).

    The 2,000-strong top political advisors will also be present at the fourth annual session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) -- China's top legislature -- slated for Sunday, hearing and discussing the work report to be delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao, and discussing the draft blueprint on China's economic and social development.

    The session is expected to last about ten days and conclude on the morning of March 13.

    As an open forum where the CPC, the non-Communist parties of China and people with no party affiliations discuss state affairs freely and on an equal footing, the CPPCC National Committee has been the manifestation of China's socialist democracy. Enditem