POSITIVE ENERGY

Most CPPCC members are experienced political figures, entrepreneurs, experts and scholars specializing in various fields, or celebrities.

The CPPCC image, however, has been somewhat tarnished by a series of corrupt scandals unveiled in a sweeping anti-graft campaign spearheaded by the central leadership.

Yu said 14 people have so far been expelled from the 12th CPPCC National Committee since 2013.

They include two vice chairmen of the CPPCC National Committee, Ling Jihua and Su Rong, who have been suspected of corruption and investigated accordingly.

Su is now being investigated by the Supreme People's Procuratorate over allegations of accepting huge bribes for promoting his inferiors, among others. A CPPCC meeting last month removed Ling from the post of National Committee vice chairman and stripped him of his CPPCC membership.

Although most of their violations did not occur during their tenure as leading national political advisors, the cases have nonetheless affected the image of the CPPCC, Lyu Xinhua, spokesman for this year's CPPCC National Committee, said on Monday, adding that the national political advisory body is no harbor for corrupt officials.

Yu also called on political advisors to take this as a warning, improve Party conduct, uphold integrity and combat corruption.

Meanwhile, further efforts should be made to bring together "positive energy for achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Yu said, calling on the political advisors to strengthen ties with ethnic minorities and religious groups to combat poverty and promote development.

They should also uphold the principle of "one country, two systems" and the basic law of the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, and contribute to deepening exchange and cooperation between the mainland and the two regions.