China's top political advisory body on Wednesday concluded a three-day meeting focusing on issues to be included in the nation's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020).
The Standing Committee meeting of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee was an important political consultation, during which political advisors offered their suggestions for the five-year plan, according to a statement released after the meeting.
China has drafted five-year plans since 1953 to map strategies for overall economic and social development, setting growth targets and defining development policies.
At the closing meeting, Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, described the 13th five-year plan period as "a stage that will decide the success of the building of a comprehensively well-off society."
He urged CPPCC members to improve the political consultation system while sticking to the leadership of the Communist Party of China.
China implements a multiparty cooperation and political consultation system that is mainly manifested in the CPPCC. Under the system, people from democratic parties or without party affiliation are encouraged to participate in political affairs through discussion and supervision.
President Xi Jinping said last month that there should be more discussion under the system to reach consensus and optimize decision-making.
The closing meeting announced appointment and removal of several officials. Lu Zhongmei was selected as a member of the CPPCC National Committee, to served as deputy head of its social and legal committee. Gu Boping will no longer hold the post because of old age. Han Zhiran was removed from the CPPCC National Committee.
An amended general rule on special committees under the CPPCC National Committee was also passed at the meeting.
