China's biggest political meet starts

Mar 04, 2017

Zhengseng’s report also outlined the CPPCC’s major tasks for 2017. Among them is deepening cooperation and ties with Africa. Addressing the members of the conference, Zhengsheng said

Chinese President Xi Jinping.Photo/AFP

By Ronald Kato in Beijing, China.

China's top political advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) started its annual conference on Friday with a call to accelerate reforms and work to turn the world's second largest economy into a moderately prosperous society by 2020.

 

The conference which sat in the Great Hall of the People was also attended by China's president Xi Jinping, also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China, China's ruling party. This is China's largest political gathering with over 3,000 deputies descending on Beijing from all over China. It sits once a year to review the previous year's work and set targets and priorities for the new year.

 

The chairman of the national committee of the CPPCC Yu Zhengsheng opened the fifth session of the 12th CPPCC national committee by presenting a report on the work of the CPPCC'S National Committee's standing committee for the past year.

 

The 26 page mentioned achievements such as deepening the role of the CPPCC's research and studies, promoting the development of socialist culture in China and promoting ethnic unity.

 

The CPPCC is only a political advisory body. Law making powers lie with the National People's Congress (NPC).

 

Zhengseng's report also outlined the CPPCC's major tasks for 2017. Among them is deepening cooperation and ties with Africa. Addressing the members of the conference, Zhengsheng said ‘We will offer suggestions on improving and strengthening China's medical assistance effort in Africa'.

 

He urged the members to unite behind the leadership of President Xi Jinping to achieve more stability and growth. ‘Let us unite even closer around the CPC central committee with comrade Xi Jinping at its core, to hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics', Zhengsheng said as the conference adjourned for the first day.

The opening session of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's law making body is set for Sunday. The CPPCC and NPC, also known as ‘Lianghui'  in Chinese or the ‘two sessions' will run until mid-March.

 

Some of the major issues for discussion this year include the Chinese economy which is expected to see more sluggish growth, containing pollution and environmental abuse as well as China's standing on the global stage.

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