China's top advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese
People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), concluded its
annual full session in Beijing Saturday afternoon, vowing to better
serve the country's peaceful reunification and the building of a
"harmonious society."
"All CPPCC National Committee members shall unite with all
forces that can be united..., contribute to the building of a
harmonious socialist society..., and promote the development of
cross-Straits relations and the motherland's peaceful
reunification," urged Jia
Qinglin, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, in his
speech at the closing meeting of the 9.5-day session.
All top Party and state leaders, including President Hu Jintao,
top lawmaker Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao, were present at the
closing meeting, which began at 3 PM in the Great Hall of the
People in downtown Beijing.
As usual, the 2,110 advisors participating in the closing
meeting voted to adopt a "political resolution," a written document
reflecting the consensus they have reached after numerous rounds of
panel discussions, voicing their full support to the enactment of
an Anti-Secession Law aimed at preventing Taiwan's secession from
China.
The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature,
is expected to vote on the adoption of the law Monday when it
concludes its annual full session in Beijing.
"Formulation of the Anti-Secession Law embodies our persistent
stand to seek peaceful reunification of the motherland with utmost
sincerity and greatest efforts, and manifests the common aspiration
and firm determination of the entire Chinese people to safeguard
national sovereignty and territorial integrity and never to allow
'Taiwan independence' secessionist forces to secede Taiwan from
China in any name or by any means," said the resolution.
Also at the closing meeting, the advisors elected Tung Chee Hwa,
chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region who
on Thursday formally announced his resignation request to the
central government, Zhang Meiying and Zhang Rongming as new vice
chairpersons of the CPPCC National Committee.
The three new CPPCC leaders were invited to take seats at the
front row of the central rostrum immediately after the
election.
The advisors also adopted several other resolutions,
respectively regarding the work of the Standing Committee of the
CPPCC National Committee over the past year, the handling of and
feedback to the proposals and suggestions they put forth at last
year's full session, and the examination and acceptance of their
proposals this year.
Proclaiming the "complete success" of the session, Jia said the
once-a-year gathering of the advisors has been "democratic,
truth-seeking, united and progressive," resulting in "fruitful
outcomes."
"We shall earnestly study and implement the important guidelines
set forth by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee
regarding the building of a harmonious socialist society," he
said.
According to Jia, a harmonious socialist society refers to a
society that features democracy and a rule of law, justice and
fairness, honesty and rapport, vitality and stability, as well as a
harmonious co-existence between man and nature.
Political advisors nationwide shall also earnestly study and
implement the "four-point guidelines" set forth by President Hu
Jintao on the development of cross-Straits relations under new
circumstances, and unite with all patriotic personages at home and
abroad to "resolutely oppose and check 'Taiwan independence'
secessionist activities," added Jia.
Founded in 1949, the CPPCC consists of elite members of the
Chinese society who are willing to serve as the think tank for the
government and for the country's legislative and judicial
organs.
As an open forum where the CPC, the country's non-Communist
parties and people without party affiliation discuss state affairs
freely and on an equal footing, the CPPCC is also regarded as an
ideal interpretation of China's "socialist democracy."
(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2005)
