Special Report: NPC, CPPCC Annual Sessions 2008

Jia Qinglin bows after being reelected chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the fourth plenary meeting of the First Session of the 11th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2008. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Jia Qinglin was reelected chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body, here on Thursday afternoon, starting a new term of five years.

    A total of 25 vice-chairpersons, a secretary-general and 298 Standing Committee members of the 11th CPPCC National Committee were also elected at the fourth plenary meeting of the First Session of the 11th CPPCC National Committee.

    The 11th CPPCC National Committee has 2,236 members, and 2,178 attended Thursday's plenary meeting.

    Fifty-four ballot examiners checked 23 ballot boxes before the voting, which started at 3:45 p.m. and lasted about half an hour.

The fourth plenary meeting of the First Session of 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2008.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Among the newly elected chairman and vice-chairpersons, 13 people are members of non-Communist parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, or personages without party affiliation, while five are from ethnic minorities and four are women.

    The average age of the chairman and vice-chairpersons is 2.8 years below that of those for the 10th CPPCC National Committee.

    The average age of the newly elected Standing Committee members is at 58.6 years, 3.3 years below the 10th CPPCC National Committee.

    The Standing Committee has 195 members from non-Communist parties, accounting for 65.4 percent of the total. It also has 37 members from ethnic minorities and 30 women members.

    The CPPCC is a patriotic united front organization of the Chinese people, serving as a key mechanism for multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and a major manifestation of socialist democracy.

    The CPPCC consists of representatives of the CPC and non-Communist parties, personages without party affiliation, and representatives of people's organizations, ethnic minorities and various social strata.

    It also has the representation of compatriots of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, returned overseas Chinese, and specially invited people.

Chinese top political advisory body elects new leadership

    BEIJING, March 13 (Xinhua) -- The 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body, on Thursday elected its leadership at a plenary meeting. Full story

Profile: Jia Qinglin -- chairman of CPPCC National Committee 

    BEIJING, March 13 (Xinhua) -- From religious leaders to Hong Kong business tycoons, from Tibet herdsmen to lawyers in foreign companies, people would be attracted to him right from shaking hands with the smiling tall man. Full story

Jia Qinglin -- Chairman of 11th CPPCC National Committee

    BEIJING, March 13 (Xinhua) - The following is the biographical sketch of Jia Qinglin, who was elected chairman of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).Full story