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Short history of the CPPCC
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-02 08:09
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is the top political advisory body in the People's Republic of China. The organization consists of delegates from the Communist Party of China (CPC), eight democratic parties, people without party affiliation, eight major mass organizations, representatives from 56 ethnic groups and five major religious groups in China, representatives from compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan as well as returned overseas Chinese, and representative figures from other circles. The National Committee of the CPPCC holds an annual meeting at the same time as the plenary sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC). The meetings usually held in March are called the "the two meetings", at which delegates discuss some of the most important issues about the country and its people. The founding of the CPPCC dates back to 1948, when the Communists proposed to convene a political consultative conference to set up a democratic coalition government, after the failed attempt to build up such a government with the Nationalists in 1946, a year after the victory over Japanese troops. Between Sept 21 and 30, 1949, the First CPPCC Plenary Session was held in Beiping (now Beijing) and 662 representatives attended the session. It was at this meeting that Beijing was selected to become the capital of the republic. Representatives also decided on the five-star red flag as the national flag, and the song of March of the Volunteers as the national anthem. The first government of the People's Republic of China was also elected at this meeting and Mao Zedong was named first chairman of the organization. Today the National Committee of the CPPCC serves for a term of five years. It is made up of personalities from various social walks. Famous director Zhang Yimou and scientist Yuan Longping are both members of the National Committee of the CPPCC. Sources: the official website of the CPPCC and www. China. org.cn
(China Daily 09/02/2009 page18) |
