The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, China's top political advisory body, held a press conference on Sunday, one day ahead of its annual session.

Liu Jieyi, spokesperson for the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, said this year's session will open at 3 p.m. on March 4 and close in the morning of March 10, lasting six days. 

Good start

Reflecting on the past year, Liu said the 14th CPPCC National Committee made a "good start" after assuming duty last year. It upheld the overall leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) over the CPPCC's work, and the CPPCC members' political capacity and performance of duties were improved through regular political training and reading, as well as theoretical study and research. 

The 14th CPPCC National Committee has focused on making suggestions on the Chinese path to modernization in a wide range of fields, including China's rural revitalization, development for private enterprises, building the country's ecological civilization, enhancing the influence of Chinese civilization and improving policy systems to boost birth rates, Liu said.

In 2024, the CPPCC National Committee continues to focus on the goals and tasks of Chinese modernization and make advice and recommendations in accordance with the major decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee, the major strategic needs of the country and practical issues in development, Liu told reporters.

Besides, Liu said the CPPCC also keeps enriching the form of consultation to improve its quality and gives full play to the unique strengths of consultative oversight throughout the political advisory body's work. 

"Since the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, 94 consultation activities have been held, with a total of 5,087 participants and 1,602 people making speeches, fully reflecting the opinions and suggestions of the general public," Liu told the press conference.

High-quality development

Liu said that economic issues have been a priority for national political advisors, and the CPPCC National Committee has engaged in consultations and provided advice on various macroeconomic and other important economic issues, with focus on high-quality development.

Recognizing the private sector as a strong driving force for Chinese modernization and an important foundation for high-quality development, the CPPCC National Committee has collaborated with local committees and authorities to address practical challenges faced by private enterprises. Efforts have been made to establish platforms for coordinated development between state-owned and private enterprises, thereby bolstering the expansion of the private sector.

Addressing concerns surrounding employment, political advisors and participating units have conducted thorough investigations and studies on promoting high-quality employment. Proposals have been put forward to facilitate full employment for college graduates and broaden their job-seeking and business-starting channels. In total, 91 proposals were submitted to address practical employment issues.

Over the past year, political advisors have also offered solutions to help deepen the integration and coordinated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a significant national strategy. This includes accelerating the establishment of a unified market in the area, advancing digitalization in industries, and establishing cross-regional talent sharing mechanisms.

Looking ahead, the CPPCC National Committee will continue to focus on the targets and tasks of Chinese modernization, providing advice on major policies of the CPC Central Committee, significant strategic needs of the country, and major practical development issues.

Regarding foreign affairs, the CPPCC National Committee considers building a community with a shared future for humanity as an important task. Over the past year, the top political advisory body has engaged in exchanges and interactions with over 200 institutions from 50 countries, established connections with 41 foreign think tanks and 12 non-governmental organizations, and formed a China-Africa friendship group under the 14th CPPCC National Committee.

In 2024, the top political advisory body will conduct extensive and in-depth foreign exchanges to contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, the spokesperson said.

(With input from Xinhua)