Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), delivers his speech at the CPPCC conference in BeijingHong Kong delegates have been urged to get involved with young people by a top Communist Party official. China's two-week-long political high season has started with the opening of the political advisory body's annual session yesterday.
In an important speech, Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), urged people to "resist and oppose anything" that might "violate, undermine and weaken political foundation for agreement".
Yu said that the party should help combine their exisiting solidarity and form a new one at the Great Hall of the People in the heart of Beijing. The so-called 'Two Sessions' – of the CPPCC and the National People’s Congress, the legislature, which begins tomorrow - occurs at the same time this year with a controversial ideological campaign.
The campaign appears to be promoting the president and party chief Xi Jinping to a status rivalling that of Mao Zedong.
It also appears to be tightening controls on public life, from academia to the media.
The sessions also come at a politically sensitive time on the mainland, with leaders calling on cadres to be loyal to the party.
Yu said the party’s leadership should be maintained, but he also urged advisers to carry out their duty "to reflect public opinion and strengthen democratic oversight of government", by giving advice, proposing motions, making speeches, and carrying out research and investigations.
Yu was addressing more than 2,000 political advisers, 200 of whom were from Hong Kong, who had gathered to discuss major political, economic and social issues.