Using the Important Thought of Three Represents to Guide the Work of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC)and Making New and Even Greater Contributions to Building a Moderately

Fellow Members, On behalf of the Standing Committee of the Tenth CPPCC National Committee, I now submit a report on its work for your examination and approval. I. Review of the Work in 2003 The people of all ethnic groups in China made significant advances in the great drive to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects in 2003. In the face of a complicated and volatile international situation, difficult tasks of domestic development, the unexpected outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and frequent natural disasters, all our people held high the great banners of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents, comprehensively followed the guiding principles of the Sixteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and worked hard with one heart and one mind under the firm leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary to make fresh achievements in reform and opening up and in the modernization drive. China enjoyed rapid economic development, national unity and social stability, and a panorama of prosperity emerged. The year 2003 was also the first year for the work of the Tenth National Committee of the CPPCC. Steadfastly following the guidance of the important thought of Three Represents, the Standing Committee of the new National Committee adhered to the themes of unity and democracy and performed its functions of political consultation, democratic oversight and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs under the leadership of the CPCCentral Committee. It mobilized and organized the organizations participating in the CPPCC and members of the National Committee on a large scale to contribute their suggestions and efforts to building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, which led the Tenth National Committee to extend the achievements of the previous national committees into new territory. 1. Genuinely giving priority to study In light of the new tasks under the new circumstances and the actual conditions prevailing after the new CPPCC National Committee took office, its Standing Committee made it clear that CPPCC committees at all levels and their members should regard study as an important and urgent strategic task having a direct bearing on the development of the Party and state and the long-term development of the CPPCC and throw themselves wholeheartedly into study. Studying and implementing the important thought of Three Represents and the guiding principles of the Sixteenth Party Congress is the political task of the first importance for the CPPCC. The Standing Committee of the new CPPCC National Committee strongly urged CPPCC committees at all levels and their members to start a drive to study and implement the guiding principles of the Sixteenth Party Congress based on the need to concentrate on the theme, grasp essential ideas and focus on implementation. After the CPC Central Committee issued its notice on initiating a new groundswell in the study and implementation of the important thought of Three Represents, the Standing Committee promptly made plans to require all CPPCC committees and their members to study this thought deeply, implement it thoroughly and achieve fresh successes in fortifying their thinking, guiding their actual performances and improving their work. In accordance with the integrated arrangements made by the CPC CentralCommittee, the Standing Committee brought the new members of the Tenth CPPCC National Committee together for study and training before it held its First Session. This helped the new members, who came from various backgrounds, to acquire a systematic understanding of China's fundamental political system and the CPPCC's nature and functions and acquainted them with their rights, obligations and responsibilities so as to help them adapt to their new roles as soon as possible. The Standing Committee instituted various systems of study, including lectures given after each of its meeting and forums, symposiums and seminars organized by the General Office and subcommittees of the CPPCC National Committee. It arranged for members of CPPCC committees to study the major principles and policies of the Party and state; theories, policies and rules of the united front and the CPPCC; and current affairs, economics, administration, science and technology, law and other subjects so they could constantly improve their ability to perform their duties. Through these varied study activities that were rich in content, all political parties, mass organizations and people from all ethnic groups and sectors of society that participate in the CPPCC increased their common understanding. They became intensely aware of the importance of focusing on the central task and serving overall national interests and raised their awareness of the importance of and strengthened their determination to contribute to building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and initiating a new phase of socialism with Chinese characteristics. 2. Steadfastly giving top priority to promoting development in performing CPPCC functions Concentrating on the state's central task and serving overall nationalinterests are principles that the CPPCC must observe in performing its functions and prerequisites for it to constantly extend its work in new directions. Just as Comrade Jiang Zemin said, "Only by subordinating itself to and serving the overall interests of the country's reform, development and stability and steadfastly integrating its work with the lofty cause of safeguarding the motherland's unity and achieving its modernization will the CPPCC be able to constantly forge ahead and make glorious, new achievements." The Standing Committee carried out wide-reaching mobilization and organization of all the political parties, mass organizations and people from all ethnic groups and sectors of society that participate in the CPPCC and instructed them to give top priority to promoting development in carrying out their functions. The Standing Committee made promoting reform and improving the socialist market economy major subjects in the deliberation and administration of state affairs, and it put great effort into in-depth research, which led to valuable comments and suggestions. Meetings of the National Committee and its Standing Committee are an important platform for the CPPCC to perform its functions. The Second Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Tenth CPPCC National Committee took the central task of development as its main topic and focused on making proposals concerning how to promote sustained, rapid and sound development of the national economy and improve the socialist market economy. The Third Meeting of the Standing Committee concentrated on studying and implementing the guiding principles of the Third Plenary Session of the Sixteenth CPC Central Committee and thoroughly discussed how to improve the socialist market economy. The Party Central Committee and the State Council attached great importance to these meetings. Comrade Wen Jiabao, member of theStanding Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council, and Comrade Huang Ju, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, each attended one of these meetings and made an important report. Leading comrades of various ministries and commissions of the State Council attended the meetings and attentively listened to comments and suggestions. Some of them also attended workshops with members of the National Committee so that both sides could discuss their work and exchange opinions. Before these two meetings, the democratic parties, the subcommittees of the National Committee and its members from all sectors of society conducted a great deal of research and scientific verification in order to make the meetings a success. At the meetings, members of the National Committee made many valuable comments and suggestions for China's economic and social development. After the meetings, the National Committee submitted reports about them and proposals on specific issues to the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. At the same time, newspapers, radio and TV stations, websites and other news media gave extensive coverage to the meetings. The People's Daily and the Journal of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference published special sections devoted to comments and suggestions from members of the National Committee. Research on special topics is a major form of the CPPCC's participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs. Over the past year, the subcommittees of the CPPCC National Committee carried out in-depth research on a number of issues, including the rural anti-poverty work at the new stage, China's policy for developing a modern logistics system, accelerating the implementation of the "going global" strategy, coordinating economic andenvironmental development, structural problems in programs for scientific and technological development, establishing a nationwide system of quality control and consultation for higher education, defining the government's role in helping people find work, increasing rural incomes in ethnic minority areas, building religious universities, getting overseas Chinese to participate in China's economic and social development, protecting and making use of the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, preserving the former residences of well-known figures and building memorials. This research resulted in 37 reports and 114 proposals, which embodied the fruits of the hard work and wisdom of the participating organizations of the CPPCC and the members of its National Committee and reflected the members' deep insights into economic and social development. They were greatly valued by the Party Central Committee and the State Council and played an important role in their scientific policy-making. 3. Participating in the anti-SARS campaign China suffered from an unexpected outbreak of SARS in the first half of last year. The CPPCC National Committee promptly convened a meeting of the Council of Chairmen and called on members of CPPCC committees to resolutely implement the CPC Central Committee's policy of working unrelentingly to prevent and treat SARS on the one hand and unswervingly carrying out the central task of economic development on the other in order to contribute to success in both areas. CPPCC committees at all levels and their members participated in the anti-SARS campaign through various channels and in different ways. First, in response to the SARS outbreak, they offered suggestions both on the emergency response to the outbreak and on setting up a public health and epidemic prevention system and emergency response mechanisms. Second, members of CPPCC committees in the medical, scientificand technological areas worked selflessly on the forefront of the anti-SARS campaign, caring for SARS patients and tackling scientific problems concerning SARS. It is particularly worth mentioning that members who are experts in this area played an important role. They were highly praised by the Party and government and the general public for their professionalism and the lofty, altruistic spirit they showed during this critical period. Third, participating organizations of the CPPCC, members of its committees and persons from all sectors of society made generous donations in cash and in kind to needy regions and organizations to express their concern. According to incomplete statistics, their SARS-related donations amounted to over 700 million yuan. Fourth, CPPCC committees at all levels and their members assisted the Party and government in coordinating relations, solving the people's problems and rallying their will, and worked hard to safeguard social stability. During this process, the cadres and workers of the General Office of the CPPCC National Committee stayed at their posts to ensure that all their work proceeded normally. Due to the impact of SARS, the subcommittees and many members of the National Committee found new ways to work by making suggestions and participating in the deliberation and administration of state affairs through the Internet and other modern communication methods. 4. Conscientiously amending the CPPCC Charter Amending the CPPCC Charter is a matter of great importance for upholding and improving the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC and building socialist political civilization. The CPC Central Committee attached great importance to amending the Charter and clearly defined the guidelines and basic principles for this work. The Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee madethe amendment its main work for 2003. The Decision to Partially Amend the CPPCC Charter was adopted at the Second Meeting of the Standing Committee of the Tenth CPPCC National Committee, and a leading group for amending the Charter was set up at the meeting. During the amendment process, the Standing Committee always worked in accordance with the requirements of the CPC Central Committee to uphold Party leadership, give full expression to democracy, and strictly follow procedures. Three regional meetings were held, in which the leading comrades on the CPC and CPPCC committees of 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government participated and spoke. In addition, comments were widely solicited from the central committees of the democratic parties, mass organizations and persons without party affiliations, departments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, experts and scholars, and veteran comrades who had long been engaged in CPPCC work. Rarely in the history of the CPPCC have we listened to such a wide range of comments and discussed issues in such depth as we did for the amendment to the Charter. By doing this work, we not only acquired a better understanding of the opinions of all sectors of society on the amendment to the Charter but also promoted the research and discussion on the theory and practice of CPPCC work in all CPPCC committees. Amending the Charter was a process of reviewing our experience in CPPCC work, studying theory and deepening our understanding. All local CPPCC committees integrated the concrete practice in their jurisdictions in recent years with a review of the results of their work and the fresh experience they had gained. Through study and deliberation, they reached a consensus on many major questions having a bearing on the overall interests and long-term development of the CPPCC. Amending the Charter wasa process of promoting education, spreading knowledge and expanding publicity. It was a process of publicizing and educating people about the theory of and information about the CPPCC, and it helped all sectors of society improve their understanding of China's fundamental political system and the position and role of the CPPCC in China's political life. This created a favorable environment for the CPPCC to better do its work. Amending the Charter was also a process in which the CPPCC improved its own development. It played an important role in prompting CPPCC committees at all levels to abide by the Charter more conscientiously and in further institutionalizing, standardizing and procedurizing the performance of their functions. During this period, we also revised or formulated rules concerning the work of the Council of Chairmen of the CPPCC National Committee as well as rules for being absent from meetings of its Standing Committee. In addition, we thoroughly considered and made overall plans for how we should improve institutions in the next stage of the CPPCC's work. 5. Attaching importance to expanding the role of the democratic parties and persons without party affiliations in the CPPCC The CPPCC is an important organ for multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC. The democratic parties and persons without party affiliations are important participants in the work of the CPPCC. We should carry out the principle of "long-term coexistence, mutual oversight, treating each other with all sincerity and sharing weal and woe" and strengthen solidarity among the parties and persons without party affiliations participating in the CPPCC so as to enable them to play their proper role in the development of socialist material, political and spiritual civilization. This is an important manifestation of the system of political parties under socialism withChinese characteristics and a major part of the work of the CPPCC. At sessions of the CPPCC National Committee and meetings of its Standing Committee and Council of Chairmen, as well as in other activities of the CPPCC, the National Committee works hard to create a democratic, harmonious and cooperative political atmosphere in which the democratic parties and persons without party affiliations can express their views. During the past year, members of the central committees of the democratic parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and persons without party affiliations were eager to speak about important issues concerning China's economic and social development at the session of the National Committee and meetings of its Standing Committee. Their proposals were given careful attention and many of them were treated as proposals of major importance. We strengthened the role of the CPPCC as a channel through which the democratic parties and persons without party affiliations keep the Party and government informed of social conditions and popular sentiments. This has become an effective way in which these parties and persons participate in the deliberation and administration of state affairs. The Standing Committee also included members of the democratic parties and persons without party affiliations on the National Committee in activities such as inspection tours and research on specific issues, and it extended the cooperative spirit to all areas and every stage of CPPCC work. 6. Improving routine work such as submitting proposals, making inspection tours and reporting on social conditions and popular sentiments Submitting proposals, making inspection tours and reporting on social conditions and popular sentiments are the main ways the CPPCC performs its functions, and they constitute an important channel through which the CPPCC's participating organizations and members of its committees exercise theirdemocratic rights and oversight. They are also effective means through which the members become acquainted with social conditions and state affairs and strengthen their unity and cooperation. After the First Session of the Tenth CPPCC National Committee, the general offices of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council promulgated the Opinions of the General Office of the CPPCC National Committee on Handling CPPCC Proposals on the National Committee's behalf We conscientiously followed the principle of "focusing on the central task, serving overall national interests, improving quality and seeking efficiency" in order to further promote and improve the work of submitting proposals. We held three-party consultations, which included the Subcommittee for Handling Proposals, sponsors of proposals and the organizations that would implement them. At these forums we studied important proposals and introduced new measures such as publishing Summaries of Important Proposals. All this constantly improved the quality of proposals and our efficiency in handling them. Since the First Session of the Tenth CPPCC National Committee, we have organized 23 inspection tours in which over 500 members of the National Committee and its Standing Committee carried out inspections across the country on major problems related to reform, development and stability. They submitted 22 inspection reports to the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, In accordance with the recent decision to give a greater role to CPPCC National Committee members residing outside Beijing, such members generally participated in inspections in their localities organized by CPPCC provincial, regional or municipal committees on behalf of the National Committee. We increased our reporting on social conditions and popular sentimentsover the past year. The General Office of the CPPCC National Committee formulated the Opinions on Improving Information Gathering, which more clearly defined the guiding principles and philosophy for this work. The Opinions emphasized that CPPCC National Committee reports on social conditions and popular sentiments should serve Party and government departments in their decision-making, help its members perform their duties, and assist the participating organizations of the CPPCC and its local committees in carrying out their work. The Opinions focused on how the participating organizations of the CPPCC and its National Committee's subcommittees could improve their work of learning about and reporting on social conditions and popular sentiments. In addition, we consider properly handling letters and complaints from the general public to be an important means for understanding social conditions and popular sentiments and an important way of serving members of CPPCC committees and persons working for the united front. Last year, the General Office of the CPPCC National Committee submitted 236 issues of CPPCC Bulletin and Special Issues of the CPPCC Bulletin and 16 issues of CPPCC Newsletter to the central authorities. The number of these communications that received written comments from the leading comrades of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council increased significantly. 7. Energetically promoting reunification of the motherland and increasing overseas ties One important mission of the CPPCC is to rally forces both at home and abroad and strengthen the cohesiveness of the Chinese nation to achieve the lofty goal of rejuvenating the nation. Holding high the banners of patriotism and socialism, we carried out various kinds of activities to increase our friendly ties. We increased our contacts with our Hong Kong and Macao members and peoplefrom all sectors of society there, made them more aware of the policy of the central authorities towards Hong Kong and Macao, and guided our members there to rally everyone who loves the motherland, Hong Kong and Macao to uphold the principle of "one country, two systems," according to which "Hong Kong people administer Hong Kong" and "Macao people administer Macao"with a high degree of autonomy, abide by the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region, support the administration of their governments in accordance with the law, and contribute to maintaining the prosperity and stability of their regions. We made timely reports on the substance of Standing Committee meetings to our Hong Kong and Macao members, included them in inspection tours on the mainland and solicited their views on the country's reform, opening up and modernization drive. We improved our ties with overseas Chinese nationals and people of Chinese origin by inviting them to China and visiting them abroad and made our efforts to increase friendly ties overseas more dynamic. We vigorously carried out work related to the people in Taiwan to promote the great cause of peaceful reunification of our motherland. We organized research and investigations on issues of interest to them, made careful arrangements for the reception of prominent persons visiting from Taiwan and worked to promote economic, scientific, technological and cultural exchanges as well as individual visits across the Taiwan Straits. We strengthened coordination and collaboration with relevant departments to make the people of Taiwan more aware of the basic principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems." We firmly opposed any form of separatist activities aimed at Taiwan independence and made great efforts to get our Taiwancompatriots to understand and support our principles and policies. 8. Continuing to expand friendly contacts with foreign countries The CPPCC's foreign contacts constitute an important part of China's overall diplomatic work. On the basis of the country's overall diplomatic strategy, we worked hard to safeguard world peace, promote mutual development and strengthen our friendly exchanges and cooperation with countries the world over. Following the principle of being "proactive, steadfast and pragmatic," we arranged more contacts with organizations hi our neighboring countries and in developing countries, increased our ties with organizations in major countries of the world and broadened the scope of the CPPCC's foreign contacts. During the past year, the CPPCC National Committee sent 19 delegations composed of its Chairman, Vice-Chairmen, or members of its General Office and subcommittees to 35 countries, received 17 visiting delegations from 12 countries, and established friendly relations with institutions in four countries and a regional organization. During our contacts with other countries, we discussed China's economic and social development and presented an image of the new collective leadership of the CPC Central Committee as one that is steadfast in deepening reform and opening wider to the outside world. We explained China's independent foreign policy of peace and expressed our hope to develop friendly relations and cooperation between China and other countries based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. We worked on major issues pertaining to China's sovereignty and fundamental interests, which produced positive results. We also explained the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC, which helped the international community better understand China's socialistdemocracy. In addition, we strengthened relations between the CPPCC and corresponding institutions and organizations in other countries and increased mutual understanding and exchanges. We successfully hosted the 21st Century Forum 2003 on "Invest in China: World's Choice & China's Policy." The CPPCC National Committee has already established friendly contacts with 170 institutions in 101 countries and eight international and regional organizations.Fellow Members, All our work got off to a good start last year; it produced significant results and created a good basis for future development. These achievements are all attributable to the great importance the new collective leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary attaches to our work and to the correct guidance it provides, and to the strong support from Party committees and governments at all levels and from all sectors of society, as well as to the hard work of all participating organizations of the CPPCC and members of its committees. On behalf of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, I would now like to extend our heartfelt thanks to you. Looking at what the new situation and new tasks require of us and what the members of the CPPCC National Committee expect of us, we are clearly aware that there are still quite a few shortcomings in our work and that we need to expand and intensify many aspects of our work. Take for example the problems of how we can expand the role of the members of the CPPCC National Committee, especially those who live outside Beijing, when the National Committee and its Standing Committee are not in session; how we can work more closely with concerned departments when carrying out studies on specific questions to select the right questions, improve the quality of our research andmake our proposals more useful to the Party and government for their policy-making; how we can review the practical experience of CPPCC committees at all levels and exercise effective democratic oversight when performing our functions; how we can discover new ways and means based on our present successful approaches to increase ties with the democratic parties and expand their role in the CPPCC; and what we can do in our daily work to further improve the quality of all meetings and activities and the level of our service. We need to work hard to make improvements in all these areas. We sincerely welcome suggestions and comments on the work of the Standing Committee from National Committee members to help us improve all the work of the CPPCC. II. Tasks for 2004 The year 2004 is crucial for China's reform and development. Comrade Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, pointed out in his major speech at the New Year reception held by the CPPCC National Committee, "We hope that in the new year the CPPCC will focus on the central task of the Party and state, be even more effective in political consultation, democratic oversight and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs, carry forward its fine traditions, make full use of its strengths, carry out its research thoroughly, actively offer proposals, and make new and greater contributions to building a moderately prosperous society in all respects."CPPCC committees at all levels and their members must conscientiously study the guiding principles of this speech and understand them well. Under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee, we must steadfastly take DengXiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents as our guide and thoroughly implement the guidelines set at the Sixteenth National Congress of the CPC and the Third Plenary Session of its Sixteenth Central Committee. We should focus on the central task and serve overall national interests; unite all sectors of society; promote democracy; emphasize uniqueness; exploit our strengths; promote the realistic and pragmatic spirit; perform our functions conscientiously; consolidate and develop a political situation that is democratic and united, lively and dynamic, and stable and harmonious; and maintain balanced development of socialist material, political and spiritual civilization. 1. Promoting continued development of the cause of the CPPCC under the guidance of the important thought of Three Represents The important thought of Three Represents is the common ideological foundation for getting the entire Party and all the people of our country to work together in this new period of the new century. This thought is also a powerful force driving the CPPCC to develop its cause further and take it into a new phase. We must be fully aware of the importance of intensifying our study efforts and carry on the CPPCC's fine tradition of emphasizing education. We should organize and encourage CPPCC National Committee members to constantly intensify their efforts to study and implement the important thought of Three Represents, fortify their thinking, guide their actual performances and improve their work. We should integrate the study of this important thought with the study of the guiding principles of the Sixteenth CPC National Congress and the Third Plenary Session of the Sixteenth CPC Central Committee, with the study of the guidelines set at the Central Conference on Economic Work, the National Conference on Publicity and Ideological Work and the National Conference on Human Resources, and with the study of the theories, policiesand professional knowledge required to carry out CPPCC functions. We should thoroughly study major questions closely related to the growth of the CPPCC's cause and improve our ability to apply scientific theory to the analysis and resolution of practical problems. This includes problems such as how we can mobilize all positive factors to the broadest and fullest extent to energize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation; how we can uphold and improve the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC to make full use of the CPPCC in improving socialist democracy; how we can correctly understand the CPPCC's themes of unity and democracy and effectively promote its work; how we can recognize the unique features of our members coming from different sectors of society and make full use of their uniqueness; and how we can use the CPPCC's rich pool of talent to provide valuable and high-quality research results to the Party and government departments for their decision-making. We should steadfastly emancipate our minds, seek truth from facts, keep up with the times and constantly pursue innovation in our theories, institutions and work on the basis of fresh experience so that all aspects of the CPPCC's work truly manifest the character of the times, follow the law of development and are creative. 2. Promoting democracy, conducting in-depth research and offering proposals concerning building a moderately prosperous society in all respects Building a moderately prosperous society in all respects provides a rare opportunity for the growth of the CPPCC's cause. It also provides a broad stage on which members of CPPCC committees can participate in the deliberation and administration of state affairs. We should conscientiously satisfy the requirement to give top priority to promoting development in exercising CPPCC functions, focus on the central task, serve overall national interests, emphasizethe uniqueness of the CPPCC and take full advantage of its strengths. When participating in the deliberation and administration of state affairs, we should select issues of vital importance to the nation and the people, including issues that affect their immediate interests. As a body in which political parties and mass organizations work together and which enjoys a high political status and exerts great influence in society, the CPPCC should closely follow major policy-related issues and provide comments and suggestions on them. Made up of representatives of 34 different sectors of society and maintaining extensive contacts with people from all walks of life, the CPPCC should acquire a good understanding of many issues of common concern, so it can promptly report on social conditions and public sentiments and play its role in democratic oversight well. With a rich pool of talented people from all walks of life and comprehensive strength, the CPPCC should make full use of its National Committee's subcommittees to focus on and thoroughly study many comprehensive, strategic, future-oriented issues that the Party and government urgently require research on when making decisions. These include such issues as pursuing development in a scientific way, formulating the Eleventh Five-Year Plan, deepening economic restructuring, solving problems facing agriculture, rural areas and farmers, developing the western region, revitalizing northeast China and other old industrial bases, addressing problems arising in the distribution of wealth, carrying out employment and reemployment work, implementing the strategy of using talented people to reinvigorate the nation, developing high technologies and applying them in production, improving ethnic and religious work, formulating policies on cultural industries and reforming the cultural system, improving the rural medical and health care system, and increasing the role of the Hong Kong and Macao members of theCPPCC National Committee. The CPPCC must make use of its unique advantages to pool the wisdom of talented people from all sectors of society, fully promote democracy, carry out in-depth research and provide the Party and government with viable comments and suggestions. 3. Taking advantage of the strengths of our system of political parties and further promoting the solidarity and cooperation among the participating political parties and persons without party affiliations of the CPPCC The system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC is a basic component of China's political system and should be upheld for a long time to come and constantly improved. The CPPCC was jointly founded by the CPC and the democratic parties, and it is an important organizational form of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC. Promoting cooperation and consultation among the participating political parties of the CPPCC has always been an important part of its work. We must conscientiously follow the principle of "long-term coexistence, mutual oversight, treating each other with all sincerity and sharing weal and woe" and promote the solidarity and cooperation among the political parties and persons without party affiliations in the CPPCC. In this new period of the new century, multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC has a more solid foundation and extends to more areas. We need to organize political consultation activities of the participating political parties and persons without party affiliations of the CPPCC well, and make them more frequent and effective, particularly for sessions of the CPPCC National Committee, meetings of its Standing Committee, meetings of the Council of Chairmen, and meetings called by the Secretary-General. We will strengthen our relationships with the democraticparties and persons without party affiliations, communicate with them concerning relevant developments in a timely manner and exchange views with them on important issues of mutual concern. We should adhere to the principle of carrying out consultation on and deliberation of state affairs on an equal footing, encourage members of CPPCC committees who are from the democratic parties or are persons without party affiliations to speak freely and give them ample opportunity to do so. We will attach greater importance to the criticism and oversight on the part of the democratic parties and persons without party affiliations, conscientiously listen and respond to their comments and suggestions and safeguard their democratic right to perform their duties. We should handle proposals submitted by the democratic parties and persons without party affiliations well, report their remarks on social conditions and popular sentiments to the Party and government and do more to carry out joint inspections and investigations on specific questions with them. We need to work hard to open avenues for them to participate more in the deliberation and administration of state affairs and create a good atmosphere for them to play their role. 4. Working hard to promote unity and maintain stability During the process of China's economic and social development, the united front has become the broadest possible union of all socialist workers, participants in socialist construction, and patriotic supporters of socialism and national reunification. As the broadest organization in the patriotic united front, the CPPCC should make full use of its broad representation and inclusiveness by uniting with all the forces possible and mobilizing all the positive factors possible to promote the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. We should take this as thestarting point and purpose of our work. We need to make it an important task to unite with new social strata, increase ties with them and constantly make them into new forces for developing a moderately prosperous society in all respects. We need to work hard to promote an all-inclusive unity among Chinese people at home and abroad, including our compatriots in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan, as well as overseas Chinese, to provide powerful support for the modernization drive of our motherland. Stability is a prerequisite for reform and development, In order to carry out the tasks of reform and development, we must maintain a harmonious and stable social environment. Because it is constituted of political parties, mass organizations and people from different ethnic groups and sectors of society, the CPPCC can and should play an important role in maintaining social stability. CPPCC committees at all levels should arrange for their members to carry out in-depth research on outstanding problems currently threatening social stability and put forward proposals for maintaining social stability. We should acquire an up-to-date understanding of important social developments and what people are most concerned about so that we can report their true opinions and demands to the Party and government and actively assist them in balancing relationships, ameliorating conflicts and allaying resentments. We must conscientiously publicize and implement the Party's policies concerning ethnic groups and religions, make fuller use of our members from ethnic minorities and religious circles, and promptly report the opinions and requests of people from these circles to promote ethnic unity and religious harmony. We must work hard to maintain a political situation that is democratic and united, lively and dynamic, and stable and harmonious. 5. Making full use of our advantages to promote the peaceful reunification of our motherland Achieving the complete reunification of the motherland is the common aspiration of all Chinese people both at home and abroad. The CPPCC has unique advantages and a unique role to play in promoting reunification of the motherland. We must continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation with relevant organizations, expand the channels for friendly contacts with people in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and with overseas Chinese from all sectors of society, carry out all kinds of activities to strengthen friendly ties with them, and work hard to unite with them in order to further contribute to the complete reunification of the motherland. We should firmly implement the principle of "one country, two systems,"according to which "Hong Kong people administer Hong Kong" and "Macao people administer Macao" with a high degree of autonomy, and we should act in strict accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region. We should keep Hong Kong and Macao members of the CPPCC National Committee informed of relevant policies and guidelines set at relevant conferences and arrange for them to make inspection tours on the mainland to create the conditions necessary for them learn about state affairs and better perform their functions. We must give Hong Kong and Macao members of CPPCC committees at all levels a greater role in uniting everyone who loves China and loves Hong Kong and Macao to support the governments of these special administrative regions and their chief executives in governing in accordance with the law and to promote prosperity, stability and development there. We must continue to implement the basic principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" and the eight-point proposal for developing relations across the Taiwan Straits and promoting the peaceful reunification of the motherland at the present stage. We must unswervingly uphold the one-China policy, resolutely oppose separatist activities of any sort that are designed to bring about Taiwan independence, and never allow anybody to separate Taiwan from China by any means. We must expand personal contacts and economic and cultural exchanges across the Taiwan Straits, promote the fine traditions of Chinese culture, and enhance understanding and acceptance of the basic principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" among all sectors of society in Taiwan. We must thoroughly put into practice the principle of placing our hopes on the Taiwan people, make the ties between the people on the two sides of the Straits as close as possible, and unite as broadly as possible with all the patriotic forces of all ethnic groups, sectors of society and social strata in Taiwan who support reunification of the motherland. We must strengthen our contacts with overseas Chinese, people of Chinese origin, returned overseas Chinese and their relatives, continue to support activities throughout the world organized by overseas Chinese and people of Chinese origin that oppose Taiwan independence and support reunification of the motherland, and help achieve the great cause of national reunification as soon as possible. 6. Thoroughly studying the Constitution and the CPPCC Charter and continuing to work for the self-improvement of the CPPCC The Constitution is the fundamental law of the state, and it defines the basic norms governing all activities of the CPPCC. A draft amendment to the Constitution will be considered at the Second Session of the Tenth NationalPeople's Congress, After being amended, the Constitution will better meet the needs for developing a moderately prosperous society in all respects and for entering a new phase of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and will better embody the spirit of the times. CPPCC committees at all levels and all their members must earnestly study the Constitution, become more aware of the importance of following it, safeguard its sanctity, set an example in abiding by it and act in strict accordance with it. The CPPCC Charter is the common code of conduct for the political parties, mass organizations, and persons from all ethnic groups and sectors of society that participate in the CPPCC, and for CPPCC committees at all levels. The draft amendment to the CPPCC Charter that will be submitted to the current session for examination embodies the important thought of Three Represents and the guidelines of the Sixteenth National Congress of the CPC, reflects the mature experience gained by the CPPCC in its work in the new period, and crystallizes the common understanding reached by CPPCC committees at all levels, organizations participating in the CPPCC and members of its committees. CPPCC committees at all levels, participating organizations and all members must conscientiously study, extensively publicize and earnestly implement the Charter. We must acquire a full and correct understanding of the nature of the CPPCC and carry out in an all-round way our functions of political consultation, democratic oversight and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs. We need to gradually introduce and improve various procedures, including those concerning performing our functions, electing and dismissing members, holding all kinds of meetings, handling proposals, and other aspects of our work to further institutionalize, standardize and procedurize CPPCC work in line with the need to build socialist democracy. We must hold anin-depth discussion that is based on the integration of theory and practice and delves into the theoretical and policy-related issues raised about the amendment to the Charter. A clause regarding the requirements, duties, and obligations for members of CPPCC committees has been included in the draft amendment to the Charter. This measure has great significance for adapting to changing circumstances and improving the quality of our members. We must fully umderstand that membership on a CPPCC committee not only confers status and honor but, more importantly, is a responsibility. We will prove worthy of the great trust reposed in us by our people, live up to their expectations, and strive to contribute to the cause of the country and the nation and to the development of the CPPCC. This year is the 55th anniversary of the founding of the CPPCC and the centenary of the birth of Comrade Deng Xiaoping, who first propounded the mission and theory of the CPPCC in the new period. We will be holding a series of celebrations and commemorative activities to review the glorious past of the CPPCC,fondly recall the memory of Comrade Deng Xiaoping's monumental contributions, thoroughly study and publicize his theories on the united front and the CPPCC in the new period, look to a bright future of the CPPCC and promote continuous progress for the cause of the CPPCC.Fellow Members, We are in a great era and shoulder a glorious historic mission. Let us rally closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary, hold high the great banners of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents, be realistic and pragmatic, and forgeahead in a pioneering spirit so as to write a new chapter to the annals of the Chinese nation's great rejuvenation!