China's top political advisory body starts annual session
Updated 10:56, 28-Jun-2018
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‍The Fifth Session of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) has opened in Beijing. Yu Zhengsheng, Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC, delivers a report on the work of the top political advisory body. 

Here are some highlights from the report: ‍

Xinhua Photo

Xinhua Photo

The Standing Committee has held meetings on six topics to discuss how to adopt more effective solutions through better targeted poverty reduction efforts, noted Yu. 
“We encouraged and supported National Committee members as they assisted counties and families struggling with poverty through pairing programs, participated in the ‘ten thousand business helping ten thousand villages’ initiative,” the chairman added.
“We provided financial aid to students in need, and promoted the use of a combination of poverty alleviation efforts, such as developing local industries, creating employment opportunities, improving medical services, and granting subsidies for ecosystem conservation, in order to form a synergy to combat poverty,” said Yu.
Xinhua Photo

Xinhua Photo

“We gave impetus to the implement of the CPC Central Committee’s major reform measures concerning the development of consultative democracy in the CPPCC,” said Yu, reviewing last year’s work.
“We worked to refine practices of democratic oversight and organized 18 major oversight activities. We undertook thorough research on issues of democratic oversight in CPPCC consultative democracy, reviewed the new experiences in exercising democratic oversight gained by CPPCC committees in all localities, and submitted suggestions and proposals to the CPC Central Committee for consideration as they make plans for strengthening and improving CPPCC democratic oversight,” Yu explained.
‍Addressing the meeting, Yu also mentioned they will keep their political consultations focused on promoting steady and sound economic development. 
Xinhua Photo

Xinhua Photo

“We will hold a special meeting of the Standing Committee on deepening supply-side structural reform and promoting steady and sound economic development, and a consultative meeting on developing a cordial and clear new relationship between government and business, and on promoting the sound development of the private sector,” said Yu. 
Speaking of the development of ties with friends overseas, Yu said they will continue to promote high-level exchange of visits with the foreign counterparts, in accordance with the overall plan for China’s diplomatic work.
He said by giving full play to the strengthens of the CPPCC National Committee’s special committees, the China Economic and Social Council, and the China Committee on Religion and Peace, the CPPCC will carry out exchange and cooperation with relevant foreign institutions and international organizations at various levels and on a wide range of issues.
Yu also stressed the importance of strengthening and improving CPPCC democratic oversight.‍
"A correct understanding is the foundation of CPPCC democratic oversight," said Yu. "And the CPPCC is not a body of state power. Its oversight work does not rely on mandatory or binding force but on political influence." 
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