Special Report: NPC, CPPCC Annual Sessions 2008

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), delivers the 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, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese top 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 here in the Great Hall of the People at 3 p.m. Monday.

    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:

    Multiparty cooperation

    -- The CPPCC National Committee supported the participation of non-Communist parties and persons without party affiliation in the discussion and deliberation of major state principles and policies and in all the activities the CPPCC carried out in the performance of its responsibilities.

    -- The CPPCC National Committee respected and safeguarded the rights of the non-Communist parties to voice opinions in their own name at CPPCC meetings and their rights to conduct inspection tours, submit proposals, register complaints, report on social conditions and popular sentiment, and participate in survey and inspection activities.

    Making comments, suggestions on important issues

    -- The CPPCC National Committee submitted many important comments and suggestions on important issues such as formulating and implementing the Eleventh Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, building a harmonious socialist society, improving macroeconomic regulation, building a new socialist countryside, making China an innovative country, making Chinese society one that conserves resources and is environmentally friendly, improving the economic structure and changing the pattern of development. During the past five years, the CPPCC handled over 23,000 proposals, compiled over 100 reports on inspection tours, submitted over 270 survey and research reports, organized 4,000 session speeches and provided over 6,600 reports on social conditions and popular sentiment.

    Ethnic unity, religious harmony

    -- The CPPCC National Committee organized inspection tours related to the enforcement of the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy to promote improvement and development of the system of regional ethnic autonomy. The CPPCC National Committee organized an inspection tour for the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and an investigation of protection of natural grasslands in Tibet to promote improvement of the ecological environment of those areas.

    -- The CPPCC National Committee held a conference for China's religious groups to mark the 60th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggressionand the worldwide war against fascism and solemnly issued the Peace Statement of Chinese Religious Groups. The CPPCC National Committee held a prayer session for peace that brought together nearly 10,000 Buddhists and Taoists from the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, Hong Kong and Macao.

    Hong Kong, Macao

    -- During the past five years, the CPPCC National Committee encouraged its members in Hong Kong and Macao to work for the country's development by carefully organizing inspection tours and activities in 12 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government for them. The CPPCC National Committee attached great importance to making the most of the role they play in their respective regions' social and political affairs, and supported these members in their efforts to safeguard the prosperity and stability of their respective regions.

    -- In the next five years, the CPPCC National Committee should unswervingly implement the principle of "one country, two systems," under which Hong Kong people administer Hong Kong and Macao people administer Macao with a high degree of autonomy, promote exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and the two regions, strengthen contacts with Hong Kong and Macao political groups, social groups and representatives, and cultivate forces that love the motherland and are devoted to their respective regions.

    Taiwan

    -- During the past five years, the CPPCC National Committee thoroughly studied and implemented the four guidelines for developing cross-Straits relations in the new circumstances put forth by Hu Jintao, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), diligently carried out work related to political parties, organizations and people from all walks of life on the island of Taiwan, strengthened ties with Taiwan compatriots from all sectors of society, and promoted visits of individuals and economic and cultural exchanges across the Taiwan Straits. The CPPCC National Committee held a celebration to mark the 140th anniversary of the birth of Sun Yat-sen. The CPPCC National Committee supported the various kinds of activities of overseas Chinese to oppose "Taiwan independence" and promote reunification, which played a positive role in promoting the great cause of reunification of the motherland.

    -- In the next five years, the CPPCC National Committee should resolutely implement the central authorities' principles and policies toward work related to Taiwan, fully exploit the CPPCC's feature and advantage of having extensive links in and out of China, successfully carry out the work related to the people in Taiwan, actively promote cross-Straits contacts and exchanges, improve mutual understanding, promote economic, technological, educational and cultural exchanges across the Taiwan Straits, and join hands with Taiwan people in opposing and containing separatist activities aimed at "Taiwan independence".

    -- In the next five years, the CPPCC National Committee should do a good job hosting activities celebrating the centennial of the Revolution of 1911.

    -- In the next five years, the CPPCC National Committee should continue to strengthen contacts with overseas Chinese, people of Chinese origin, returned overseas Chinese and their relatives; do a better job garnering the support of overseas Chinese nationals, pooling their wisdom, utilizing their strength, and safeguarding their rights and interests; and continue to support activities throughout the world organized by overseas Chinese and people of Chinese origin that oppose "Taiwan independence" and support reunification of the motherland to contribute to peaceful national reunification.

    Foreign contacts

    -- Over the past five years, members of the Chairperson's Council of the CPPCC National Committee paid visits to nearly 70 countries and played host to 46 foreign delegations headed by speakers or deputy speakers of national legislatures.

    -- The CPPCC National Committee has now established contacts with 211 institutions in 121 foreign countries and 12 international or regional organizations and maintains friendly relations with them.

    Major experience of past five years' work

    -- The CPPCC National Committee must uphold the leadership of the CPC.

    -- The CPPCC National Committee must adhere to the two main themes of unity and democracy.

    -- The CPPCC National Committee must give top priority to promoting development in carrying out its functions.

    -- The CPPCC National Committee must make sure that the aim and outcome of its work is to fulfill, safeguard and develop the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people.

    -- The CPPCC National Committee must continue to develop institutions, standards and procedures for the way it carries out its functions.

    -- The CPPCC National Committee must continue to increase its self-improvement efforts.

    Suggestions for next five years' work

    -- The CPPCC National Committee should fortify its thinking with the latest achievements in adapting Marxism to Chinese conditions.

    -- The CPPCC National Committee should contribute suggestions and efforts focused on applying the Scientific Outlook on Development.

    -- The CPPCC National Committee should promote harmonious relations among political parties, ethnic groups, religions, social strata, and compatriots at home and overseas.

    -- The CPPCC National Committee should promote a great development and flourishing of socialist culture.

    -- The CPPCC National Committee should earnestly strengthen unity and friendship with compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and with overseas Chinese.

    -- The CPPCC National Committee should further expand friendly foreign contacts.