Advisers to pool wisdom for growth

Political advisers are encouraged to offer suggestions on State affairs such as on the quality and safety of agricultural products, employment in areas with large ethnic minority populations, ecological conservation and the national public health protection network, the report said.

More than 10 lecture programs by national political advisers on major tasks will be held this year to expand channels for consensus and pool wisdom and strength among society, according to the report.

Wang also called for giving full play to the CPPCC's role as a specialized consultative body and improving its institutional efficiency.

"As an integral part of China's governance system, the CPPCC has served as a unique platform and an important institution for the CPC as it has led our people in developing socialist democracy and a Chinese approach to governance," Wang said.

China has entered a new stage of development, putting new and higher demands on the CPPCC, he said.

"As members of a specialized consultative body, becoming experts at consultation should naturally be among the most pressing tasks for CPPCC members," he said.

"We need to enhance our capacity to conduct consultation with non-CPC representatives, relevant departments and with people from different sectors so that we can serve as bridges for conveying demands, pooling wisdom and promoting consensus," he said.

Han Fangming, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, said it is the fourth time he has attended a session. "Wang's report took only 40 minutes, the most concise in the past four years. However, it covered all aspects, and the response was very good," he said.

"This year I'm most concerned about the 14th Five-Year Plan and how the country can better integrate with the world and achieve better development after recovery from the pandemic," he said. Han added that political advisers should adapt to new ways of performing their duty under the current situation as the pandemic has changed many things.

Liu Hongyu, a national political adviser from the legal sector, said she participated last year in many study activities for CPPCC members, which helped improve her ability to make proposals and consult with government departments to achieve consensus.

Agenda

9 am: The fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress opens. Premier Li Keqiang delivers the Government Work Report. Legislators review a draft annual plan for national economic and social development, draft 2021 budgets, the draft outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for national economic and social development and long-range objectives through 2035, and draft amendments to the Organic Law of the NPC and the NPC's procedural rules. They will also deliberate on a draft decision on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong SAR.

3 pm: NPC deputies and CPPCC National Committee members hold group discussions.

Mo Jingxi and Cui Jia contributed to this story.