Advisers have valuable role in State affairs

China's national political advisers have fulfilled their duties with a focus on the central tasks of the Communist Party of China and the country and contributed their wisdom to bringing together compatriots at home and abroad to work in advancing national rejuvenation, Wang Yang, chairman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said on Saturday.

Wang presented a work report to about 2,100 national political advisers in Beijing at the opening of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC, raising the curtain on this year's two sessions, China's biggest annual political event.

President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the meeting with other Chinese leaders.

Wang reviewed the work of the 13th CPPCC National Committee in the past five years, saying that national political advisers focused on advice and efforts on major issues and conducted valuable consultations on Party and State affairs.

Topics under consultation included major economic and social issues such as promoting the development of the new energy vehicle industry, safeguarding national food security and curbing pollution, Wang said.

"We provided advice and suggestions on the formulation and implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25)," he said, adding that they also offered advice on fighting poverty.

To coordinate the response to COVID-19 with economic and social development, advisers submitted over 3,500 reports, opinions and suggestions, he said.

The CPPCC National Committee also made a powerful rallying call "to all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation at home and abroad to work together in advancing national rejuvenation", Wang said, adding that it also carried forward the fighting spirit by issuing a stern statement in response to then United States House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's provocative visit to Taiwan.

"We should carry out consultations and deliberations with the aim of serving the overall work of the CPC and the country," he said.

"We should work earnestly to build consensus and strengthen unity," Wang added.

Over the past five years, a total of 29,323 proposals were submitted, and 23,818 of them were accepted and filed, said Shao Hong, vice-chairman of the 13th CPPCC National Committee, while giving a work report on the proposals.

As of the end of February, 99.8 percent of the filed proposals had been handled or replied to.

"The CPPCC National Committee has conducted in-depth consultations with relevant parties, and many of the proposals have been reflected on in relevant planning policies and measures, giving full play to the advantages and role of the CPPCC in promoting people's democracy and economic and social development in the whole process of development," Shao said.