Top political advisor highlights CPC leadership

Chinese top political advisor Yu Zhengsheng on Friday underscored the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in the work of the political advisory body, while urging political advisors to pool "positive energy" to contribute to the country's development.[Special coverage]

At the closing meeting of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Yu, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, said the Chinese people are en route towards the realization of the Chinese dream of great rejuvenation under the leadership of the CPC.

Political advisors must unwaveringly uphold the Party's leadership, strengthen confidence in socialism with Chinese characteristics, and build consensus among the public in order to bring together "positive energy" for the implementation of the strategic layout of "Four Comprehensives," he said.

The "Four Comprehensives," unveiled by Chinese President Xi Jinping, refer to comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society, deepening reform, advancing the rule of law and strictly governing the Party.

Yu went on to warn against bureaucracy and extravagance, calling on fellow political advisors to forge closer ties with the people, maintain a clean work style and self-discipline, and abide by laws and regulations of the CPPCC, in order to contribute to the country and the people.

Meanwhile, a political resolution adopted at the meeting also made extensive references to the "Four Comprehensives", calling them a "guideline for advancing Party and national undertakings" in the new year.

Efforts should be made to adapt to and guide the economic "new normal" and counter downward pressure on the Chinese economy, the resolution read, while citing reforms - in particular those concerning government administration, investment and financing, taxation and state-owned enterprises, among others - as an engine for scientific development.

Political advisors should contribute to the modernization of China's national governance by promoting the rule of law, while stepping up the fight against corruption and run the Party strictly, it read.

The resolution also pledged to promote the consultative democracy, saying it embodies a key feature of China's deepening political reform, and underlined the leadership of the CPC as the most fundamental feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Efforts should also be made to boost ethnic unity, improve China's system of regional ethnic autonomy, and apply the principle of the rule of law to religious undertakings, it said.

The CPPCC should support the principle of "one country, two systems," help push forward ties across the Taiwan Strait, and expand friendly exchanges with overseas counterparts, it said.

The annual session of the political advisory body, which opened on March 3, also approved a report on the work of the Standing Committee of the 12th CPPCC National Committee over the past year, and a report on the proposals submitted by CPPCC National Committee members to the session this year.

By 2 p.m. on March 7, CPPCC National Committee members had submitted some 5,800 proposals concerning the country's economic and social development.

According to the report on the proposals, much of the political advisors' attention was concentrated on deepening reforms, advancing the rule of law, and safeguarding and improving people's well-being.

Political advisor raised some 2,100 proposals regarding China's economic development and the formulation of the 13th Five Year Plan in the face of the "new normal" of slower economic growth. The Chinese economy grew 7.4 percent in 2014, the weakest annual expansion in 24 years.

Another 600 proposals focused on the political front, with political advisors calling to intensify an anti-corruption campaign, improve legislations including the criminal law, and build a law-based government.

About 1,500 proposals focused on social governance, and over 400 on environmental protection and ecological progress.

The CPPCC is a patriotic united front organization of the Chinese people, serving as a key mechanism for multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC.

Seen as a major manifestation of socialist democracy, the CPPCC serves to conduct political consultation, exercise democratic supervision and participate in the discussion and the handling of state affairs.

Many CPPCC members are experienced political figures, entrepreneurs, experts, scholars and celebrities.

The political advisory body also has the representation of compatriots of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and returned overseas Chinese.