The Second Session of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese
People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top
advisory body, opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing
Wednesday.
Chairman Jia Qinglin of this advisory body pledged that the
organization will give top priority to helping boost the country's
development, by raising proposals and suggestions on issues
regarding national economy and the people's livelihood.
This is also what the CPPCC National Committee eyes in an
amendment to the organization's charter, Jia said in his report on
the work of the Standing Committee of the 10th National Committee
of the CPPCC.
In-depth investigations have been conducted and opinions heeded
and solicited from a broad range of society in drafting the
amendment, he told the annual gathering of 2,200 members.
The CPPCC is a patriotic united front organization of the
Chinese people. Its main functions are to conduct political
consultation, exercise supervision and participate in the
discussion and handling of state affairs, mainly through setting
forth proposals and suggestions.
Reviewing the work over the past year, Jia said the
participating parties, special committees and members of the CPPCC
National Committee made in-depth investigations and studies on
major issues of the country's social and economic development over
the past year and, on this basis, submitted 22 inspection reports,
37 survey reports and 114 written suggestions to central
authorities.
Premier Wen Jiabao and vice premiers have personally called for
attention paid to these reports, and some ministers of the State
Council will make replies to the questions raised by the CPPCC
members and committees during the 10-day session.
This year, Jia said, the CPPCC will work harder still to unite
all socialist workers, builders of the socialist cause, patriots in
support of socialism and the motherland's reunification, including
compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese,
to serve the nationwide endeavor to build a well- off society in an
all-round way.
He urged CPPCC members to concentrate their studies on major
government policies and issues of major concern in society, and
make relevant suggestions for resolving problems arising from
social and economic development so as to help enhance social
stability in the country.
On the Taiwan issue, Jia reiterated continued efforts to carry
out the basic principle of "peaceful reunification and one country,
two systems" to promote the reunification of the motherland.
"We must always keep to the one-China principle and firmly
oppose any form of separatist activities for `Taiwan independence.
' We will never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from China in any
form," he said.
Jia also called for promoting personnel contacts and
economic and cultural exchanges across the Taiwan Straits, and make
utmost efforts to unite the people from all walks of life in Taiwan
and all patriotic forces both in Taiwan and the other parts of the
world for the motherland's reunification.
In implementing the principles of "one country, two systems,"
"Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong," "Macao people governing
Macao" and a high degree of autonomy, Jia acknowledged that efforts
must be made to unit the people who love Hong Kong and Macao and
support the governments and chief executives of the two special
administrative regions to administer according to law, so as to
promote the prosperity, stability and development of Hong Kong and
Macao.
Li Meng, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, also
addressed the opening ceremony. He said in his report on proposals
that CPPCC National Committee members have tabled a total of 3,819
proposals over the past year, most of which have been transferred
to relevant government departments.
"Some 98.8 percent of the proposals had been handled up to Feb.
20 this year," he said.
In the following days, members of the CPPCC National Committee
are expected to adopt the amendment to the organization's charter
and a political resolution of the session.
They will also attend the opening session of the Second
Plenum of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top
legislature, as observers two days later and hear and discuss the
report on the work of the government and other major reports at the
NPC session.
(China.org.cn March 3, 2004)
