The chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) has promised that the top political advisory body will keep promoting systemic and institutional building within the organization and strengthen consensus building in the new era.

Wang Yang made the remarks on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the third session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee. He was reporting on the work of the Standing Committee of the advisory body.

As the CPPCC is tasked with raising proposals concerning politics, the economy and social affairs, having a clear position of its role will help it to better fulfill its responsibilities.

The CPPCC is neither a body of state power nor a legislature, but a political organization with democratic functions and Chinese characteristics, said Wang Yang who stressed the importance of a clear vision of the CPPCC's position.

"We are an organ to organize consultations, not the main body to conduct consultations, we are not consulting 'with' the CPPCC but consulting 'in' the CPPCC," he said.

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To enrich its role, the CPPCC has diversified its forms of consultation over the past year, including allowing members to fulfill their duties online, the chairman said. 

The CPPCC held 71 consultation meetings, 97 research trips and the cross-sector consultation meetings during its plenary session for the first time in the past year, Wang noted. 

"We should handle properly unity and diversification," he continued, adding that building consensus does not mean unification but a leadership towards a certain direction. 

"It is not a one-way preach but an interactive consultation."  

In this regard, Wang said during the past year, the CPPCC has also conducted various activities, such as having consultations on the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and promoting the successful practice of "One Country, Two Systems" in Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR). 

Wang said the CPPCC should better serve as the channel to address contradictions and form a consensus. He also stressed the need to study the influence and impact of internet developments on people's mindsets.

"This is a solid political and social foundation for the CPC to lead the people to govern the country," he added.