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CPPCC leaders vow to limit role

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THE leadership of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) has vowed not to ''go beyond its frame of reference'' in offering suggestions to and supervising the Communist Party and the Government.

The Standing Committee of the Eighth CPPCC, which met for the second plenary session in Beijing yesterday, also indicated the system of top conference deputies retaining senior party or government postings would continue.

However, the leadership also called on members to openly air their views and to ''refrain from suppressing'' the freedom of expression.

Leading CPPCC figures who gave major speeches at the session yesterday included Chairman Mr Li Ruihuan, First Vice-Chairman Mr Ye Xuanping and Vice-Chairman Mr Wu Xueqian, all of whom are members of the party's liberal faction.

Mr Wu, a former vice-premier, made a plea for the creation of a ''democratic and harmonious environment''.

''We must let a lot of people speak out, ensuring that they can say whatever they like,'' Mr Wu said.

''We should allow people to express reservations [about the party line]; refrain from the suppression [of free speech]; and make provisions for differences of opinion.'' Mr Ye, a former governor of Guangdong, said the CPPCC should improve and boost its main function of ''the democratic supervision'' of the party and the Government.

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