Chinese President Xi Jinping met with delegates from some non-communist parties on Saturday, who are attending the Fifth Session of 12th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee in Beijing. 

Xi talked with the members from China Association for Promoting Democracy, Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party and Jiu San Society, three of the eight non-communist parties in China that cooperate with the Communist Party of China and make contribution to the country’s economic and social development. He emphasized the importance of respecting intellectuals and heeding their constructive proposals, as well as letting them play positive roles in various fields.

Every year’s Two Sessions see the members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee take part in the panel discussion with deputies of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and members of the CPPCC National Committee. 

Between 2013 and 2016, President Xi, also the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, had 24 times of participation in the panel discussions. That on average leads to President Xi Jinping's participation in some six group discussions every year during the period of the Two Sessions, according to the People’s Daily statistics. The topics, including the people's livelihood, ecological environment, industrial optimization and upgrade as well as the leadership team construction, have been put at the top of President Xi’s agenda. 

Meanwhile on Saturday, Premier Li Keqiang, also the member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended a CPPCC discussion about the protection of property rights, prices of agricultural products and development of the private sector. 

China raised the curtains for its annual political high season on Friday, with the top political advisory body, the CPPCC National Committee, pledging further conformity to the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping as the core. 

On Sunday, the NPC, China's top legislature, will also begin its yearly assembly. Dubbed colloquially as the Two Sessions, the dual meetings are to set the national agenda for the year and beyond, and make regular yet crucial venues where political and economic developments are reviewed and discussed, and key policies adopted.

(With inputs from Xinhua)