The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opened its annual session in Beijing yesterday with a call for a greater political role for the advisory body.
The annual session was attended by President Jiang Zemin, Premier Zhu, Vice-President Hu Jintao and former premier and NPC chairman Li Peng.
It was declared open, to applause from 2,013 delegates and dozens of ministers, by CPPCC chairman and Politburo member Li Ruihuan.
In his work report for 1998, CPPCC vice-chairman Ye Xuanping told delegates: 'Under the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory, the CPPCC National Committee earnestly exercised its functions of political consultation, democratic supervision and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs.' He praised the delegates for offering 'valuable advice' on issues including unemployment, education, science and technology, agriculture and environmental protection in the past year.
Mr Ye said last year the CPPCC committees completed 51 special studies and submitted 45 of them to the State Council for consultation.
'The CPPCC has strengthened its work in reflecting people's opinions and improving its network of collecting information. Many of them are hot and difficult issues concerning the state.' He called on delegates to step up their efforts to reflect public opinion and to 'systematise' the channels of offering advice and exercising 'democratic supervision' over the Government.
