REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE

OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE

CHINESE PEOPLE'S POLITICAL CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE

Delivered at the Third Session of the 13th

National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

on May 21, 2020

Wang Yang

Fellow Members,

On behalf of the Standing Committee of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), I present this report on our work since the second session of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC for deliberation. 

I. 2019 in Review: Celebrating Our 70th Anniversary and Fulfilling Our Duties and Responsibilities

The year 2019 marked the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), as well as the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the CPPCC. Under the strong leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the CPPCC National Committee and its Standing Committee have followed the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, giving priority to celebrations for the 70th anniversaries of the founding of the PRC and the CPPCC. With commitment to the coordinated implementation of the five-sphere integrated plan  and the four-pronged comprehensive strategy , we have focused our efforts on securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and fighting the three critical battles against poverty, pollution, and potential risk. Having continued to improve the CPPCC as a body dedicated to consultation, we earnestly performed our duties, fulfilled our political responsibilities of implementing the CPC Central Committee's decisions and plans, of meeting its requirements for CPPCC work, and of pooling the wisdom and strength of all the Chinese people, both at home and abroad, and made new contributions to the undertakings of the Party and the state. 

In 2019, the CPC Central Committee convened the Central Conference on CPPCC Work, which was the first of its kind in the history of the CPC and the CPPCC. General Secretary Xi Jinping delivered an important speech at the conference, in which he spoke highly of the historic contributions made by the CPPCC over the last 70 years. He elaborated upon the CPPCC's mission, tasks, fundamental requirements, and the focus of its work, and explained the intrinsic connection between the CPPCC and China's governance system. His speech provided answers to such important questions as what the CPPCC is, what its mission is, and how it should function, charting the course for CPPCC work in the new era. 

In our work over the last year, as well as in the recent fight against covid-19, the Standing Committee put into practice the CPC Central Committee’s new plans and requirements, and focused our work specifically on the following four areas in keeping with the CPPCC's mission. 

First, we studied and implemented the guidelines of the Central Conference on CPPCC Work. 

We made every preparation for the Central Conference on CPPCC Work in accordance with the planning of the CPC Central Committee. In this process, we earnestly studied and acted upon General Secretary Xi Jinping's inspiring ideas on strengthening and improving CPPCC work. 

We made studying and implementing the guiding principles of the Central Conference on CPPCC Work our major political task, and for this purpose we organized collective study sessions for the Chairpersons Council, special meetings of the Standing Committee, and study sessions for special committees. We also held study sessions for National Committee members and local committees, theoretical seminars, and awareness-raising lectures for local committees at all levels. Through these activities and those aimed at studying and implementing the guidelines of the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee, we have enhanced our awareness of the importance of upholding and improving socialism with Chinese characteristics, of promoting modernization of China's governance system and capacity, and of leveraging the role of the CPPCC as a body dedicated to consultation, which has made us more motivated and dedicated in our endeavor to translate the CPPCC's institutional strengths into effective governance of our country. 

In line with the requirements of the Central Conference on CPPCC Work and in order to accomplish the 65 tasks outlined in conference documents, we worked out possible measures and approaches, and began improving our working systems in 10 areas, laying a solid foundation for reinforcing and improving the work of the CPPCC in the new era. 

Second, we meticulously organized activities in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the CPPCC’s establishment. 

In line with the overall arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, we mobilized CPPCC members in effectively performing tasks related to celebrations for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the PRC. We also organized events to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the CPPCC with the theme of "the CPPCC and Me" in light of the realities of CPPCC work. Through their participation in these activities, CPPCC members at all levels have bolstered their resolve and built stronger consensus for upholding the leadership of the CPC, a conviction that the organization has held since its founding. 

We initiated 10 committee-member lecture programs to tell stories about multi-party cooperation under the leadership of the CPC, arranged 132 visits and field trips for 2,149 members centered on the CPC's founding mission to ensure that CPC members on the National Committee remain committed to it, selected 100 of the most impactful proposals of the National Committee over the past 70 years for commendation, collected more than 1,000 musical and lyrical works about the CPPCC, arranged with National Committee members about filming one-minute videos in which they expressed their passion and determination to follow the CPC and serve the country, produced TV programs such as Original Aspiration and Founding Mission  Celebrating the 70th Anniversary of the CPPCC's Establishment, collected historical records for the publication of books such as The Birth of the National Flag, the National Anthem, and the National Emblem of the People's Republic of China and The CPPCC in 70 Years, and hosted an exhibition on the history and achievements of the CPPCC. These activities have given us an opportunity to recall past achievements, enhanced our confidence in our system, and inspired us to march on.

Third, we more effectively fulfilled our dual responsibility of offering suggestions and building consensus.

Acting on the instructions and comments of General Secretary Xi Jinping, we redoubled efforts to build platforms and mechanisms for CPPCC members to offer suggestions on state affairs and build consensus so that these two functions may work side by side and reinforce each other to the benefit of a stronger role in both ways.

We conducted open discussions through which unity and democracy is promoted under theoretical and political guidance, and members of the National Committee's leading Party members' group held talks with non-CPC members with an attendance of 316. We organized 11 research tours for members who are not in the CPC to locations such as the Saihanba Forest Farm and the three Gorges Dam to learn from the spirit and achievements of these projects, held 10 briefings on major issues of public concern, hosted 16 committee-member lecture programs, arranged 26 awareness-raising tours for major and special tasks, and opened the National Committee body to the public on two occasions. We explored effective ways for the CPPCC to guide its members and for CPPCC members to contact people from different social sectors. We took steps to improve the quality of our proposals, speeches, consultative meetings, and suggestions in other forms, and created channels, such as special issues of CPPCC bulletins, daily reports on social conditions, topic-specific reports, and public complaint notices, to ensure that issues faced by CPPCC members and people from all walks of life as well as their opinions and suggestions are reported in a timely manner. As a result, CPPCC members' suggestions on state affairs have been given greater importance and their efforts to build consensus have produced positive results.

Fourth, we actively participated in the fight against covid-19.

We implemented the guiding principles of General Secretary Xi Jinping's speeches and the CPC Central Committee's decisions and plans, and mobilized CPPCC committees at all levels, our participating organizations, and our members to plunge themselves into epidemic prevention and control efforts.

Taking advantage of our mobile work platform, closed-door consultative seminars, and our channels for handling proposals and reporting on social conditions and public sentiment, we have made suggestions on such topics as epidemic prevention and control, resumption of work and production, stabilization of social expectations, and improvement of law-based governance. And we have offered over 1,300 reports, opinions, and suggestions.

We held a biweekly consultative forum on eliminating the undesirable custom of consuming wild animals, organized three committee-member lecture programs entitled "Standing United in the Fight against the Epidemic," and increased coverage of the CPPCC's endeavors in combatting the epidemic. We conducted a survey via our mobile platform on topics including how to beat the epidemic while securing economic and social development, how to improve relevant institutions and mechanisms, and how to enhance China's capacity for governance. With 85.6 percent of CPPCC members participating, the survey has helped pool wisdom, build consensus, and bring together strength.

During the nationwide fight against the epidemic, National Committee members from the medical and health sector working on the anti-covid-19 front lines issued a public letter, calling on all CPPCC members to take on duties and join the battle, and the National Committee sent them a message expressing appreciation. Our members across the country actively participated in the efforts to treat patients, make scientific and technological breakthroughs, organize donations of money and goods, stabilize production and employment, guarantee supplies, and remedy grievances, demonstrating a strong sense of responsibility through the contributions they have made in their respective posts.

Since last year, the Standing Committee has focused on the central tasks of economic development, served the overall interests of the country, earnestly fulfilled its duties, and advanced the following work in a holistic manner:

1. Bolstering innovative theoretical studies and keeping to the correct political course

We continued to educate and guide our members with Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and institutionalized seminars for its study. We set up 11 study groups headed by members of the National Committee's leading Party members' group, and hosted 45 study sessions on different topics in a well-planned manner. We improved the study scheme in which the theoretical study group of the leading Party members' group charts the course of studies, making theoretical studies a regular practice and an institutionalized arrangement.

In 2019, we organized 79 study sessions with a total attendance of 15,000. We integrated the study of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era with the study of the history of the CPC, the People's Republic of China, the united front, and the CPPCC, and with our efforts to exert the role of activities such as research tours and consultation and deliberation of state affairs in offering theoretical and political guidance. These initiatives have helped us gain a better understanding of the political advantages of the Party leadership and the institutional strengths of socialism with Chinese characteristics, thereby consolidating our shared theoretical and political foundations.

2. Diversifying methods of consultation and leveraging the role of the CPPCC as a body dedicated to consultation

In the year 2019, we conducted 71 consultative meetings and 97 inspections, surveys, and research tours. We held consultative meetings on a sector-by-sector basis while a plenary session was in progress for the first time, set up a mechanism for online consultations, and made a successful branding of consultative meetings with Party and government departments to analyze population, resource, and environment-related trends, to discuss work related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers, and to assess the international landscape. Activities such as our biweekly consultative forums, which are designed to find solutions through discussion, have given our members an opportunity to offer their opinions and suggestions, and Party and government departments an opportunity to address concerns, therefore facilitating effective interaction between them, and delivering positive results in a democratic setting. 

Forty-eight groups have been set up on the mobile platform that allows our members to conduct consultations and deliberations online, thus expanding their participation and making it easier for them to perform their duties. We have seen initial success of this mobile consultation platform free from the limitations of time and space. 

We have built closer contacts with Party and government departments, while relevant authorities have placed greater importance on our consultation platforms and improved relevant policy measures by taking the opinions, criticisms, and suggestions of our members into account. The results of our consultations have thus been effectively applied. 

3. Acting on the new development philosophy and suggesting ways to promote high-quality development

The Standing Committee held a special consultative meeting on promoting high-quality development of the manufacturing sector, and made proposals on accelerating structural adjustment and improving the business environment in support of efforts to build China into a manufacturer of quality. 

Making the best use of a wealth of talent in the CPPCC, we organized special consultative meetings at which nearly 100 academician members discussed innovation-related issues, and continued with group consultations on topics such as basic research and innovation-driven development so as to contribute suggestions for the formulation of a state plan for scientific and technological development over the long and medium term. We organized consultations and discussions on development of the new-energy vehicle industry, the big data industry, the maritime economy, and the sharing economy to promote the replacement of old growth drivers with new ones. 

We also hosted the China Economic and Social Forum and held seminars to analyze the macroeconomic situation, and made proposals on strengthening and improving macro regulation, forestalling and defusing major risks, promoting sound development of the private sector, handling economic and trade frictions between China and the US, and improving the financial ecosystem. 

With a view to advancing ecological civilization, we conducted surveys and studies to oversee the handling of key proposals including those to enhance the overall effectiveness of the central route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and incorporate the Yellow River Ecological Belt into the national strategic planning. We continued to participate in activities to care for our forests, and carried out follow-up research on efforts to control excessive extraction of groundwater in North China and on the impacts of climate change on China's ecological security. We also conducted surveys and consultations and exercised democratic supervision on issues such as establishing compensation mechanisms for ecological conservation efforts, building national ecological civilization pilot zones, preventing and controlling plastic pollution, constructing the Sichuan-Tibet railway, and protecting grassland ecosystems, and many important proposals raised in the process have been adopted. 

4. Keeping the CPPCC focused on serving the public good and working hard to improve people’s wellbeing and promote social progress

With a view to winning the battle against poverty, we made study tours and conducted consultations on poverty alleviation efforts in areas with large ethnic minority populations, and offered suggestions with regard to consolidating the results of poverty reduction efforts and preventing relapses into poverty. Our suggestions on setting up mechanisms for monitoring and early warning of relapses into poverty and for providing emergency aid were highly valued. 

We offered suggestions on the promotion of rural revitalization and the development of tracing systems for guaranteeing the safety and quality of agricultural products. We hosted online consultations on ensuring rural roads are well built, managed, maintained, and operated, and promoted the introduction of documents on these topics.

The Standing Committee held a special consultative meeting on providing education that meets people's needs. We also called a consultative meeting on improving basic public cultural services in rural areas. The outcomes of these meetings were considered and adopted by relevant departments. 

We conducted research and consultations on issues such as the promotion of family ties, values and traditions, the training of pre-school teachers, the growth of private schools, the development of calligraphy as a branch of learning, and the development of the Grand Canal cultural belt, as well as ways to keep alive and develop traditional Chinese dramas and operas, and to promote high-quality development of the film industry. We arranged special inspection tours regarding the training of teachers working in extremely impoverished rural areas, the protection of Long March relics, the development of tourism related to the early history of the CPC, and the cultural development of the Yongding River basin. 

We engaged in consultations on policy measures to create jobs, on implementing the Healthy China initiative, on promoting traditional Chinese medicine, on improving public healthcare services at the community level, and on strengthening elderly care services. We arranged visits to teachers on Teachers’ Day and the participation of our members in community-level events related to science and technology, culture, healthcare, and sports. 

In our efforts to promote the law-based governance of China, we engaged in consultations and offered suggestions on improving the work of public interest litigation by procuratorates, revising the Copyright Law, and protecting intellectual property rights in cyberspace and personal information in the era of big data. We also carried out surveys to oversee the enforcement of the Law on the Protection of Cultural Relics. 

5. Bolstering unity and friendly ties and bringing together the strength and will of the people

We improved the mechanism of the CPPCC as an important political and organizational form to practice a new model of political party system, and conducted joint studies and consultations with the central committees of democratic parties. 

We held special consultative forums on raising awareness of ethnic unity and progress and on encouraging the use of core socialist values as a guide for interpreting religious canons and teachings. We conducted research and consultations on better handling urban ethnic affairs in the new era, on upholding the principle that religions in China must be Chinese in orientation, and on creating new ways to strengthen the management of places of worship in accordance with the law. The China Committee on Religion and Peace completed its transition to a new term. 

We arranged for National Committee members from Hong Kong and Macao to participate in inspections of post-earthquake reconstruction in Wenchuan, Sichuan Province, construction of the China (Hainan) Pilot Free Trade Zone, and development of Hainan into a free trade port with Chinese features. We carried on the program for young people from Hong Kong and Macao to visit the mainland on study trips. We organized study tours and consultations on the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the business operations of enterprises founded by overseas Chinese, Chinese nationals overseas, or compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, as well as on efforts to foster a stronger sense of national identity among young people in Hong Kong and Macao, and boost youth innovation and entrepreneurship in Shenzhen and Hong Kong. 

We encouraged National Committee members from Hong Kong to make their voices heard and to join with people from all sectors in pooling positive energy to stop violence and disorder. We publicized the successful practice of the policy of One Country, Two Systems in the context of Macao, and monitored the handling of the key proposal on deepening cooperation between Macao and Hengqin. 

We organized and offered guidance to the 15th symposium on Heluo culture, co-hosted the 11th Straits Forum, and carried out cross-Straits exchanges on community-level governance. We strengthened ties with Chinese nationals residing abroad, and invited their representatives to attend the plenary session of the National Committee in a nonvoting capacity as well as biweekly consultative forums.

6. Deepening friendly exchanges with other countries and serving the country's overall diplomatic work

We actively arranged exchanges of high-level visits and multi-level exchanges in an effort to keep people of other countries informed of the CPPCC and China's new model of political party system. 

We hosted events for diplomatic envoys from other Asian countries posted in China to experience the CPPCC for themselves, held a symposium on organizations of the united front in China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Viet Nam, and Laos, and engaged in friendly exchanges with the Viet Nam Fatherland Front. 

Leveraging the role of the Sino-African friendship group in the National Committee, we invited young parliament members from African countries to visit China, and conducted research on putting into effect the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. 

We launched consultations on boosting cooperation on innovation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and on raising the quality of China-Europe freight train services, and carried out supervisory surveys on the implementation of major opening-up measures. 

With regard to the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act passed by the US Senate and the Uygur Human Rights Policy Act of 2019 passed by the US House of Representatives, we issued formal statements to repudiate the falsehoods and fallacies contained in these documents and resolutely safeguard China's core interests. 

The transition of the China Economic and Social Council to a new term was completed. We supported the Council as it hosted the 17th session of the Sino–EU Round Table in conjunction with the European Economic and Social Committee and its participation in the Belt and Road Initiative—Seminar on Chinese Enterprises Going to Asia-Pacific. 

We supported delegations from the China Committee on Religion and Peace in attending the 10th World Assembly of Religions for Peace and the annual meeting of the Executive Committee of the Asian Conference of Religions for Peace, and hosted the International Seminar on Interfaith Exchanges and Shared Future for Mankind.

7. Putting stress on raising the quality and effectiveness of our work

Members of the Chairpersons Council played a leading role in overseeing the handling of key proposals, and revised measures to select key proposals and oversee their handling. We launched the first annual event to select the year's best proposals, and conducted trials for holding consultative meetings on the handling of proposals formulated when the National Committee is not in session. We received a total of 5,488 proposals, and 4,089 of which were accepted and filed, and thus the handling of proposals was effectively improved. 

We implemented the guidelines on improving consultations and deliberations and related quality assessment measures, revised the guidelines on strengthening and improving surveys and studies, put in place an appraisal and review mechanism for research projects, launched a trial to select research topics proposed by our members, and established bases for surveys and studies. 

We also took steps to make our work more IT-based. We stepped up our media work, and achieved initial success in developing a multi-dimensional structure for disseminating information via newspapers, websites, mobile news apps, WeChat, and information screens. 

The China CPPCC Theory Research Association completed its transition to a new term, and we held a theoretical seminar to discuss the CPPCC's historical contribution and new mission in the new era as a body dedicated to consultation. 

8. Strengthening self-improvement of the CPPCC under the guidance of Party building

In accordance with the overall arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, the Party organizations of the National Committee launched a campaign under the theme of "staying true to the Party's founding mission" to deepen self-reform and exercise full and rigorous self-governance of the CPC. 

We implemented the Guidelines of the CPC Central Committee on Strengthening the Party's Political Building. We gave play to the role of the leading Party members' group of the National Committee in leading CPPCC work, enhancing its leadership over the CPC branch groups of special committees and its body. And we improved the system of commenting on the performance of Standing Committee members who are also CPC members. 

While giving full rein to the principal role of primary-level CPC organizations and the exemplary role of Party members in the CPPCC, we improved systems for keeping records on members' performance and for Standing Committee members to submit performance reports. We arranged for National Committee members who are not Standing Committee members to attend Standing Committee meetings in a nonvoting capacity on a group-by-group basis, and improved mechanisms for calling on National Committee members and for recording contacts with our members. We enforced strict discipline among our members, and expelled three members of the National Committee in accordance with relevant regulations. 

We convened a conference on the work of special committees, and formulated guidelines on strengthening and improving the work and systems of special committees. By doing so, we further clarified working relationships and operational procedures of special committees, and consolidated the foundations of CPPCC work. 

According to the principle that CPPCC committees must be subject to the leadership of the CPC committees at the corresponding level and the guidance of CPPCC committees at the next level up, we held a seminar with chairpersons of local committees and a conference to exchange experience in CPPCC work, and improved mechanisms for the secretaries-general of local committees to share experience and discuss work. 

With the goal of building the National Committee into a model body, we encouraged all officials to take on responsibility, and made every endeavor to build a capable contingent of officials that serves the CPPCC more efficiently. We put in place a mechanism to ease burdens on primary-level organizations by taking action against the practice of formalities for formalities' sake. We made tireless efforts to combat formalities for formalities' sake, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance, and carried out internal inspections in this regard. We provided support to the discipline inspection and supervision team sent to the National Committee body in performing its supervisory duties.

Fellow Members, 

We owe our achievements since last year to the firm leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, to the strong support of CPC committees and governments at all levels and all sectors of society, and to the concerted efforts of the participating organizations of the CPPCC, its committees at all levels, and their members and bodies. On behalf of the Standing Committee, I wish to express our sincere thanks to all of them.

Meanwhile, we are also clearly aware that there is still room for improvement in the CPPCC's work: We must have a more profound understanding and grasp of the role of the CPPCC in China's governance system and continue to improve our working systems and mechanisms as a body dedicated to consultation. We must explore new ways of building consensus, and further improve the quality of our surveys and studies. We must stick to a problem-oriented approach and take solid steps to address these issues in our future work.

II. Tasks for 2020: Working Together to Achieve the Goal of Moderate Prosperity and Making Great Strides in the New Era

In 2020, we will accomplish our goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, bring the 13th Five-Year Plan to conclusion, and secure a decisive victory in the fight against poverty. At present, the world remains in a grave and complex situation as a result of the global pandemic and its economic impacts, posing unprecedented challenges to our country's development. The following are the general guidelines for the CPPCC's work this year:

•  follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era;

• fully implement the guiding principles of the 19th National Congress of the CPC, the second, third, and fourth plenary sessions of the 19th CPC Central Committee, and the Central Conference on CPPCC Work;

• enhance our awareness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, follow the leadership core, and keep in alignment; 

• increase our confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics;

• resolutely uphold General Secretary Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and resolutely uphold the Party Central Committee's authority and centralized, unified leadership;

• coordinate efforts to promote democracy and unity, and fulfill our dual responsibility of offering suggestions on state affairs and building consensus;

• give full play to the role of the CPPCC as a body dedicated to consultation;

• mobilize and unite with all political parties, people's organizations, and individuals from all ethnic groups and sectors of society in the CPPCC;

• work hard to fulfill our duties and bring together the strength and will of the people with a focus on coordinating efforts to prevent and control epidemic on a regular basis and promote economic and social development.

We will thus contribute to the accomplishment of the targets and tasks of winning the fight against poverty and securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

1. Building up theoretical competence

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era is the guiding principle of the Party and the country, and it serves as the guide to action and the fundamental basis for the CPPCC's work in the new era. 

We will take advantage of various study mechanisms, such as Standing Committee group study sessions, Chairpersons Council brain-storming sessions and seminars, and give full rein to the role of study groups for Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. We will thoroughly study and apply the guiding principles of the fourth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee and the Central Conference on CPPCC Work, and hold meetings to exchange experience and share effective practices in implementing the guiding principles of the Central Conference on CPPCC Work.

Integrating theory with reality, we will organize inspection tours focusing on the fight against epidemic and aimed at self-teaching and self-improvement, and give publicity to role models and moving stories. This will enable our members to attain a thorough understanding of the marked advantages of the CPC's leadership and socialism with Chinese characteristics, have stronger will and greater strength to tackle tough issues head-on, and follow the Party and heed its call with unwavering commitment.

2. Fulfilling duties and responsibilities with a focus on the targets and tasks for completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects

With a view to helping implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party and the state to the letter, we will implement the guiding principles of General Secretary Xi Jinping's speech at the seminar on securing a decisive victory in the fight against poverty, carry out surveys and studies to oversee efforts to eliminate extreme poverty, and hold special consultative meetings of the Standing Committee on ensuring that our victory against poverty meets high standards and that long-term mechanisms are established to address the issue of relative poverty. 

We will hold Standing Committee meetings and symposiums to deliberate and make suggestions for the drafting of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development. We will organize special consultations on promoting cooperation on innovation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and on advancing cultural programs as part of the efforts to implement the rural revitalization strategy.

We will hold biweekly consultative forums and online consultations to conduct research and offer suggestions on major issues concerning economic and social development, including strengthening the development of new types of infrastructure, promoting the development of the industrial internet, fostering innovative high-tech enterprises, addressing bottlenecks in sales of certain agricultural products, helping implement the policy to manage water demand according to available water resources, and promoting the protection and development of marine resources, as well as major issues of public concern, including improving mechanisms to prevent and control major epidemics, refining the public health services system and emergency response system, establishing new mechanisms to mobilize national support for making breakthroughs on core technologies in key fields, raising community-level governance capacity, building public sports venues and facilities, providing care and support for the elderly parents and young children of migrant workers who have been left behind in rural areas, and revising the Law on Administrative Review.

We will carry out democratic oversight on issues including implementation of policies for guaranteeing renters the same rights to some public services as homeowners and for cutting taxes and fees.

We will play our role as a specialist think tank, conduct comprehensive studies on strategic issues, strengthen forward-looking analysis of macroeconomic trends, and conduct research and offer suggestions on how to ensure stability on six fronts and maintain security in six areas,  so as to provide outcomes that can be used as reference by the Party and the government in the decision-making process. 

3. Promoting great unity and solidarity

We will launch joint research projects and consultations to create conditions for members from democratic parties and those without party affiliation to better play their role in the CPPCC. 

We will improve committee-member lecture programs and awareness-raising tours for major and special tasks, and refine an open discussion system and the system for strengthening communication with non-CPC members so as to increase contacts with our members who are non-CPC intellectuals, and members from the non-public sector or new social groups. We will establish a talent pool for participating in the deliberation of state affairs, and look into establishing a mechanism for inviting influential figures to participate in major consultations. 

With a view to fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, we will hold special consultative forums for members from ethnic minority groups and religious groups to discuss topics such as the development of tourism in areas with large ethnic minority populations and the training of religious personnel. 

With a view to ensuring that the policy of One Country, Two Systems is firmly upheld over the long term, we will help National Committee members from Hong Kong and Macao build a stronger sense of mission and political responsibility, and firmly support the improvement of systems and mechanisms for enforcing China's Constitution and the basic laws of the two special administrative regions in Hong Kong and Macao. We will maintain close contact with social organizations and public figures from all sectors of society in Hong Kong and Macao, and conduct research on integrating the two regions into the country's overall development and promoting the education of their young people.

We will deepen exchanges with relevant political parties, groups, social organizations, and public figures from all walks of life in Taiwan.

We will improve mechanisms for inviting representatives of Chinese nationals overseas to attend the plenary session of the National Committee in a nonvoting capacity and participate in our inspection tours, and conduct research and surveys on work related to Chinese nationals overseas.

4. Bolstering the CPPCC's international exchanges

In line with China's overall diplomatic agenda, we will engage in pragmatic exchanges such as high-level visits, and enhance ties with foreign institutions, political organizations, media outlets, think tanks, and influential figures from all social sectors. 

We will host a forum for consultative bodies and similar organizations, the Asia Social Dialogue Forum, and a series of events for foreign diplomatic envoys to experience the CPPCC for themselves in order to bolster exchanges and cooperation.

We will set up relevant groups for the promotion of friendly foreign ties, institutionalize the work of the Sino-African friendship group, and carry out follow-up studies on issues such as Sino-African cooperation on health and agriculture. 

We will hold biweekly consultative forums on conveying China's human rights-related progress to the world. We will provide support for the China Economic and Social Council and the China Committee on Religion and Peace in attending relevant international events.

In the course of our international exchanges, we will deepen people- to-people and cultural exchanges, give high priority to advocating the concept of building a human community with a shared future, tell the world about how China, as a responsible major country, has taken firm action and contributed to international cooperation in the fight against the covid-19 epidemic, and tell China’s stories in an engaging way, stories about CPC governance of China, about the CPPCC, and about the new model of political party system, in an effort to create a favorable external environment. 

5. Furthering theoretical studies on CPPCC

Focusing on important judgments and arrangements regarding CPPCC work made at the fourth plenary session of the 19th Party Central Committee and the Central Conference on CPPCC Work, we will bolster theoretical studies and interpretation on issues such as the strengths and functions of the CPPCC system, the CPPCC's role in our country's governance system, and the operating mechanisms of the CPPCC as a body dedicated to consultation. 

We will give full play to the role of the China CPPCC Theory Research Association, refine our theoretical research system, and integrate resources for conducting research, in an effort to produce high-quality research results, thus providing theoretical support for the development of the CPPCC's work in the new era.

6. Improving the CPPCC's working systems

We will set up and improve systems and mechanisms based on the rules of consultation that cover every dimension of the CPPCC's work, including the performance of members, organization and management, and internal operation.

We will uphold the system through which the Party exercises leadership over the CPPCC, and refine mechanisms for inspecting the implementation of the CPC Central Committee's major decisions and plans and General Secretary Xi Jinping's important instructions and comments.

We will formulate guidelines on strengthening and improving our work related to building consensus and on fostering a strong sense of responsibility among members. We will improve mechanisms for leveraging the strengths of the new model of political party system, and make institutional arrangements for the democratic parties to voice opinions, offer suggestions, and carry out consultations in their respective names at CPPCC meetings by improving systems to raise proposals and speak at conferences. We will refine the working systems of special committees and revise their general rules, and improve the system of contacting and guiding local committees.

Political work shall lead all aspects of Party building in the CPPCC. We will study and review the implementation of the Guidelines on Strengthening Party Building in the CPPCC for the New Era, and raise the quality of Party building in CPPCC committees at all levels.

We will take solid steps to bolster development of the National Committee body, foster ranks of capable officials, build up theoretical competence, and improve the work of the National Committee body in all respects. We will tighten discipline and improve conduct, and enforce strict requirements with regard to political education and the management and oversight of officials, striving to build the National Committee into a model body that enjoys the trust of the CPC Central Committee and the support of the people. 

III. Consolidating Our Foundations: Opening up a New Phase for CPPCC Work in the New Era

General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech at the Central Conference on CPPCC Work and the Guidelines of the CPC Central Committee on Strengthening and Improving the Work of the CPPCC in the New Era have set the major tasks for the CPPCC both now and for the period ahead. We must continue to ensure their full implementation, focus on consolidating our foundations, uphold the system of the CPPCC, and effectively advance the cause of the CPPCC. 

1. Resolutely upholding the CPC's overall leadership over CPPCC work

Since the CPPCC's establishment, it has been the consensus of all political parties, people's organizations, and individuals from all ethnic groups and sectors of society to accept and support the leadership of the CPC. This is also the fundamental political principle stipulated in the CPPCC Charter. 

The world today is experiencing profound changes of a kind unseen in a century, and our country is at a critical moment in our efforts to realize the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Since the 18th National Party Congress, it has been proven through practice that only by resolutely upholding the CPC's leadership, the authority of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, and its centralized, unified leadership can we overcome difficulties and realize the great dream of national rejuvenation.

To uphold the CPC's leadership over the CPPCC, we must take concrete steps. We must work to ensure that upholding Party leadership is reflected in all aspects of our work, including enhancing our theoretical competence, scrupulously performing our duties, promoting unity and cooperation, improving our systems and mechanisms, and strengthening the competence of our members, and is also embodied in every dimension and at every stage of our undertakings. We must see to it that the Party's propositions are translated into broad consensus and conscious actions of the people from all sectors of society by operating our systems, following democratic procedures, and conducting effective work, thus improving the CPPCC's role as an important platform for upholding and strengthening the CPC's leadership over all endeavors.

2. Effectively improving the system under which the CPPCC serves as a body dedicated to consultation

The CPPCC is, by nature, a body dedicated to consultation. The CPPCC's use of consultation as a vehicle to promote broad unity and multiparty cooperation and practice people's democracy fully reflects the unique strength of China's socialist democracy, which is that the affairs of the people are discussed by the people whenever a problem rises. We must keep to the right direction as we improve the system under which the CPPCC serves as a specialized consultative body, and develop effective systems to ensure that CPPCC's unique strength is fully brought to bear. 

We must never change the nature of the CPPCC, and make it clear that it is not an organ of power, nor a legislative body, but rather a political organization and form of democracy with Chinese characteristics and salient political strengths. 

We must strengthen our consultation functions, and make it clear that as an organization responsible for arranging and undertaking consultation tasks, the CPPCC is not the principal actor in consultation, but rather an important platform for promoting democracy, unity, and cooperation and engaging people in the deliberation of state affairs. The CPPCC is not a body with which to consult about state affairs; but rather a body through which to discuss state affairs. 

We must have a thorough grasp of the CPPCC's functions as a body dedicated to consultation and the multi-dimensional nature of the consultations conducted through CPPCC. These include consultations by relevant departments with CPPCC members from different sectors of society for the purpose of promoting sound decision-making and advancing the implementation of related measures, consultations by CPPCC members from different sectors of society with relevant departments for the purpose of contributing advice on the handling of state affairs, as well as internal consultations among CPPCC members from different sectors. We must continue to advance extensive, multilevel, and institutionalized consultation through the CPPCC.

In accordance with the requirement to build the system of functions for Party and state institutions, we must further clarify the CPPCC's functions and responsibilities as a specialized consultative body, and exercise consultative democracy throughout the process of performing our duties. We will establish and improve regulations on consultation work, and refine mechanisms for ensuring that consultations are conducted both before decisions are made and while decisions are being implemented. We will look into new experience and new methods in the institutionalization of the CPPCC consultation. We will see to it that our consultation brings together the will of the people, which, in turn, will be translated into concerted action. In this way, we will be able to leverage the strengths of the CPPCC system to achieve China's effective governance.

3. Intensifying efforts to build consensus

At present, our tasks of advancing reform, promoting development and maintaining stability have never been so daunting, the problems, risks, and challenges that we face have never been so great in number, and the interactions and clashes between diverse ideas and cultures have never been so intense. In this situation, it is crucial that we strengthen theoretical and political guidance and build broad consensus.

We must adopt a correct outlook on the performance of our duties, understanding that while offering suggestions is a key component of our work, our duty of building consensus is even more important. We must integrate efforts to build consensus in all of our activities, including inspections and visits, surveys and research, and consultations and deliberations. We must ensure integrated planning and implementation in both our efforts to pursue positive outcomes in suggestions on state affairs and our endeavors to enhance theoretical competence. 

We must expand common ground, and strike the right balance between commonality and diversity. While practicing great unity and solidarity, we must ensure the diversity of our members and carry on our mission with concerted efforts of all sectors of society. We will hold high the banner of patriotism and socialism, make our common goals a source of momentum and guidance for our action, and seek common ground while putting aside differences, in an effort to build the greatest political consensus among all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation at home and abroad—that is, to realize the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

It is not easy to build consensus, but consensus is of paramount importance. The consensus we seek does not come by imposing uniformity in whatever way, but rather by giving inspiration and direction; it does not emerge through one-way preaching, but rather through an interactive process of discussion and consultation; it is not feigned deference, but rather genuine acknowledgment from the bottom of one's heart; and it is not something that can be achieved overnight, but rather a result of persistent efforts over the long term. We should get rid of the erroneous views that different opinions are undesirable, that consensus can be built by forcing ideas on others, and that communication and consultation are troublesome. Instead, we should forge friendship with shared values, treat people with sincerity, convince others with reason, and seek common ground through consultation. We must continue to form a clearer understanding of consensus through study sessions, build consensus through consultation and discussion, and increase consensus through the process of proceeding from unity, offering criticism, and achieving unity. 

We need to deliver better results in our work, focusing on key, difficult, and focal issues as well as demands of particular groups. We must adapt to the impact of the internet on how people think, and visit and engage with organizations at the community level and people from different social sectors so that we can explain policies to them accordingly, remedy their grievances, and promote unity. We will work to develop the CPPCC into an important channel for addressing conflicts and building consensus on the basis of our common theoretical and political foundations, thereby providing strong political and social foundations for the CPC's efforts to lead the people in successfully governing the country.

4. Strengthening CPPCC members' determination to shoulder responsibility

CPPCC members represent people from different social sectors, and they are the principal actors in the CPPCC's work. They have great influence, enjoy great respect, and shoulder heavy responsibilities. What they say and do attracts wide attention, and it is their bounden duty to fulfill their responsibilities.

We as CPPCC members must strengthen our readiness to take on responsibility and remain committed to performing our duties for our country and people. No matter where we work, within the CPPCC or at our own posts, we must value our honor, keep in mind our responsibilities, and strive to make progress; we must never sit on the sidelines, take a passive attitude toward our work, or chase after fame and fortune. We must take the initiative in working at the forefront and go in all out for bringing together the strength and will of the people, putting forward proposals and suggestions, promoting consultative democracy, and participating in the governance of the country, thereby providing positive energy for national rejuvenation.

We must enhance our capabilities and know how to better fulfill our responsibilities so as to adapt ourselves to meet the requirements for modernizing China's system and capacity for governance. We must intensify theoretical studies, carry out reading activities, and foster a culture of reading within the CPPCC in an effort to upgrade our capabilities in understanding political guidelines, conducting surveys and research, maintaining close ties with the people, and engaging in cooperation and teamwork. We must have thorough knowledge of the CPPCC's role, be adept at consultation and deliberation, abide by rules and disciplinary regulations, and act with integrity. We must incorporate efforts to uphold the CPPCC system into our active and effective participation in every dimension of the CPPCC's work. 

We must serve as role models in bearing responsibility, making it our priority to be courageous and take earnest action. Recognizing that the CPPCC is a political organization, we must be clear-cut in our political stance and firm in our political principles. At critical moments we can be relied upon to stand up and make our voices heard. We must live up to the requirements for CPPCC members to maintain a firm stance and serve as role models in performing duties through real actions, and to inspire and guide people from different sectors whom we represent in forging ahead and making progress together.

Fellow Members,

The CPPCC now shoulders a lofty mission and great responsibilities as the timeframes of the Two Centenary Goals[1] converge. Let us unite even closer around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and strive to break new ground for the CPPCC's cause in the new era. Let us make new and greater contributions toward securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, achieving great success for socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, and realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.

[1] The Two Centenary Goals are to finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by the time the Communist Party of China marks its centenary and to build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful by the time the People’s Republic of China celebrates its centenary.

¹The five-sphere integrated plan is to promote coordinated economic, political, cultural, social, and ecological advancement.

²The four-pronged comprehensive strategy is to make comprehensive moves to finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, deepen reform, advance law-based governance, and strengthen Party self-governance.

³The six fronts refer to employment, the financial sector, foreign trade, foreign investment, domestic investment, and expectations. The six areas refer to job security, basic living needs, operations of market entities, food and energy security, stable industrial and supply chains, and the normal functioning of county-level governments.

⁴The Two Centenary Goals are to finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by the time the Communist Party of China marks its centenary and to build China into a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious and beautiful by the time the People’s Republic of China celebrates its centenary.