REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE'S POLITICAL CONSULTATIVE CONFERENCE(CPPCC)

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 The year 2004 was a year of development and progress for China in the effort to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects and accelerate the socialist modernization drive. Guided by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary, the people of all our ethnic groups held high the great banners of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents, adhered to the central task of economic development, fully implemented a scientific outlook on development, strengthened and improved macroregulation, and continued to deepen reforms, open wider to the outside world, promote development and safeguard stability. The economy maintained good growth momentum, further progress was made in all social undertakings, the people's lives improved, and more achievements were made in building socialist material, political and spiritual civilization and a harmonious society. The year 2004 was also a year in which the CPPCC made constant innovation and significant progress in carrying out its undertakings. During the year, the Tenth National Committee and its Standing Committee adhered to the themes of unity and democracy, focused on the central task, served the overall interests, were realistic, pragmatic, pioneering and innovative, earnestly performed their functions of political consultation, democratic oversight and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs, and scored achievements in all their work. 1. Continuing to give priority to study and earnestly fulfilling thenew requirements of the CPC Central Committee for the work of the CPPCC. Paying more attention to study is vital to advancement of the cause of the CPPCC. The Standing Committee conscientiously studied Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents and, in light of the work of the CPPCC, focused its study and implementation efforts on the following three areas in 2004. First, studying and putting into practice the guiding principles set at the Fourth Plenary Session of the Sixteenth Central Committee. Held in September of last year, this session adopted the Decision of the Central Committee of the CPC on Strengthening Its Governance Capacity. The session was of great significance to the comprehensive advancement of the great cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics and a new great program of Party building. Following the conclusion of the session, the National Committee organized its members for conscientious study of the guiding principles of the session through various activities, including the seventh meeting of the Standing Committee. The National Committee also made careful arrangements for implementing these principles. Second, studying and implementing the guiding principles of the important speech of Comrade Hu Jintao. Last year marked the 55th anniversary of the founding of the CPPCC. At a meeting to celebrate the event, Comrade Hu gave an important speech in which he spoke highly of the great contributions the CPPCC had made, scientifically reviewed the lessons learned from its history and defined the principles and basic requirements for its work. After this speech was published, the National Committee held a seminar for people from all sectors of society to study the speech and also listed the study and implementation of the guiding principles of the speech as an important item on the agenda of the seventh meeting of the Standing Committee. All participating organizations of the National Committee and CPPCC local committees at all levels also thoroughly studied and implemented the speech in many forms. Third, studying and implementingthe newly revised CPPCC Charter. Following the adoption of the Amendment to the CPPCC Charter at the Second Plenary Session of the Tenth National Committee, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the CPPCC National Committee each issued a notice defining clear requirements for studying and implementing the revised charter. These notices quickly brought on a wave of study and implementation of the charter throughout the country. The Chairperson's Council, the Secretary-General's Council, the Central Study Group and the subcommittees of the National Committee organized the study of the charter. The leading group for amending the charter organized the compilation of guides for studying the charter, published articles to publicize and explain it, and arranged for people to go to localities to publicize it. Party committees of all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government attached great importance to the study and implementation of the new charter. They organized a variety of activjties for Party and government organizations and relevant leading comrades to study the charter, such as meetings of the standing committees of Party committees, special report meetings and meetings of central study groups. Leading comrades of Party committees of all localities personally presided over the meetings and set requirements for implementing the guidelines defined in the notice of the Central Committee's General Office as well as for studying and implementing the revised charter. Party committees in some provinces and municipalities also held-meetings on CPPCC work and made arrangements to strengthen this work. CPPCC local committees at all levels also carried out discussion sessions to study and implement the charter and formulated concrete measures to put into practice the important guiding principles for amending the charter. As a result of these study activities, leading cadres at all levels and people from all sectors of society increased their understanding of the CPPCC and attached more importance to and gave more support for itswork. 2. Earnestly performing functions and making proposals, centering efforts on adopting and implementing a scientific outlook on development. At its sixth meeting, the Standing Committee organized its members for a discussion of some major issues in economic and social development, policies and measures for strengthening and improving macroregulation, and the economic and social situation, centering on adopting and implementing a scientific outlook on development. A central government leader delivered a report at the meeting, and leading comrades of the Central Committee and various ministries and commissions of the State Council attended the meeting and listened to comments and suggestions. Some of the leaders of the ministries and commissions also attended group meetings to discuss issues and exchange opinions with Standing Committee members. The valuable comments and suggestions made by these members were sorted and submitted to the Central Committee and the State Council in the form of proposals on specific issues or in the CPPCC Bulletin or the Special Issues of the CPPCC Bulletin. Some of them were given extensive coverage in newspapers, periodicals, radio and TV, websites and other news media. When the National Committee and its Standing Committee were not in session, all National Committee bodies continued to focus on the central task of the Party and the state, made the major issues in economic and social development the main topics of their proposals and carried out in-depth research. Many desirable results were achieved. For instance, a central government leader fully agreed with the proposal about promoting development of the non-public sector of the economy and directed the relevant government departments to work out a corresponding guidance document. In formulating the document, these departments carefully listened to what National Committee members had to say. The State Council officially promulgated this document recently. For example, somecentral Party and government leaders showed great interest in a CPPCC proposal for protecting and supporting the theatrical art of Kunqu. The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Culture created the National Program to Save, Protect and Support the Art of Kunqu, under which a special annual grant of 10 million yuan will be allocated to support the existing seven Kunqu troupes for the next five years. In addition, the National Committee sponsored the compilation and publishing of Scores of Selected Chinese Kunqu Operas. The collection made a positive contribution to the protection of the traditional art of Kunqu and helped ensure its survival and development. In another example, a leading comrade of the State Council commented on a study of the prevention and control of snail fever submitted by the CPPCC. A relevant government department then adopted suggestions made in the study and carried out a number of corresponding measures, such as improving disease monitoring, strengthening research on the disease, increasing investment for prevention and control, improving related policies and accelerating the formulation of the Regulations on the Prevention and Control of Snail Fever. For instance, the National Committee organized large-scale environmental protection activities under the banner, "Protect the Yangtze River." These included fact-finding tours in the eight provinces and municipalities along the river, symposiums, a document carrying the signatures of 10,000 people called,"Love Your Country, Protect the Yangtze River," theatrical performances and other varied and colorful publicity activities. Dozens of central and local government news organizations gave extensive coverage to these activities, producing a strong reaction in provinces and municipalities along the river and helping promote ecological conservation and environmental improvement in the river valley. The subcommittees of the National Committee carried out in-depth research on several major issues related to the formulation of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan and Long-Range Program Through the Year 2020 and a series of other major issues. Theseincluded how to guarantee security of grain supply, balance urban and rural development, reform the system of income distribution, promote industrial application of new and high technologies, make nine-year compulsory education basically universal and basically eliminate illiteracy among young and middle-aged adults in the western region, protect the lawful rights of migrant workers in cities, simulate economic development in the Bohai Sea region, protect famous cities of historical and cultural interest, accelerate economic and social development of the region around the Wuling Mountains inhabited by ethnic minorities, implement the "go global" strategy for private enterprises, and open direct air and shipping services between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits. Research on these issues resulted in 68 reports, providing an important basis and reference for democratic and scientific policy-making by the Party and the government. The organizations participating in the CPPCC and its National Committee members submitted 4,478 proposals last year, of which 4,263 were put on record for investigation. Some valuable comments and suggestions contained in these proposals were promptly reported through Summaries of Important Proposals to the Central Committee, the State Council and relevant departments. Inspection work of National Committee members was intensified with the organization of 30 tours staffed by over 750 members to carry out inspections across the country on major issues in economic and social development. As a result, 26 reports were submitted to the Central Committee and the State Council. We entrusted local CPPCC committees with the organization of National Committee members residing in their jurisdiction to take inspection tours in their localities and in other provinces or regions. More progress was made in reporting on social conditions and popular sentiment in terms of expanding the number of information sources, raising the quality of information reported and improving our work style. We prepared and submitted 325 issues of the CPPCC Bulletin and Special Issues of the CPPCC Bulletin and provided1,390 pieces of important information. Leaders of the Central Committee and the State Council wrote 133 comments on the content of the CPPCC Bulletin and relevant departments of the State Council sent 72 replies to the Bulletin. The proportion of items in the Bulletin receiving comments from top leaders in 2004 was more than double that of the previous year. 3. Maintaining close unity and accord by promoting unity and cooperation among all political parties, mass organizations and people from all ethnic groups and sectors of society. We earnestly adhered to the principle of long-term coexistence, mutual oversight, treating each other with all sincerity, and sharing weal and woe to strengthen unity and cooperation among all political parties and people without party affiliations in the CPPCC. We held a well-organized plenary session of the National Committee and meetings of its Standing Committee and Chairperson's Council, faithfully adhered to a principle of democratic consultation and seeking common ground while reserving differences, listened to the comments and suggestions of the democratic parties and people without party affiliations and reported them to the central authorities. By arranging speeches to be delivered by National Committee members at CPPCC meetings, organizing inspection tours for these members from all sectors of society, handling proposals from the democratic parties, reporting on social conditions and popular sentiment, working with the democratic parties and people without party affiliations in research on special topics, helping the central committees of these parties improve their working conditions, and strengthening our regular contacts with them, we gave full play to the role of these parties and people without party affiliations in the CPPCC. The central committees of the democratic parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce and people without party affiliations made 115 proposals and submitted 2,503 documents reporting on social conditions and popular sentiment during the past year, all of which were promptly handled and responded to. One important task of the CPPCC is to assist in the implementation of the country's ethnic and religious policies and to help unite people representing all ethnic minorities and religions to contribute to the modernization drive and the reunification of our motherland. The Standing Committee organized trips for National Committee members representing ethnic minorities and religions during which they conducted investigations and studies, and observed the situation in economic and social development and ethnic and religious work in developed coastal areas and the western region. We enthusiastically served these members by helping them better understand social conditions and state affairs. We helped resolve difficulties related to the sites for religious activities in some areas, genuinely benefiting religious leaders and believers. We held a seminar at which leaders of 40 CPPCC committees at the provincial or sub-provincial level discussed in-depth how to improve the CPPCC's ethnic and religious work under the new conditions. We also staged cultural activities to display the magnificent cultures of China's ethnic groups and the new type of socialist relationships between them. Progress was made in giving more play to the role of National Committee members residing outside Beijing. We formulated the Guidelines on Giving a Greater Role to CPPCC National Committee Members, Especially Those Residing Outside Beijing, setting forth concrete requirements and measures for organizing activities for members living outside Beijing. We set up groups in all localities to organize activities for National Committee members and appointed National Committee members who are heads of their provincial-level CPPCC committees as group leaders, and deputy secretaries-general of provincial-level CPPCC committees as contact persons. All provincial-level CPPCC committees implemented the guidelines in various forms and included activities for National Committee members living in their jurisdiction in their own work plans. They invited these members toparticipate in the sessions of the standing committees of their local CPPCC committees and their consultative meetings on special topics, majoy activities, inspection tours, seminars and local democratic oversight activities. The National Committee also held a conference to study how some CPPCC local committees could expand the role of National Committee members residing in their jurisdictions, during which the attendees reviewed and discussed their achievements hi this regard. 4. Improving rules and regulations of the CPPCC and further institutionalizing, standardizing and defining procedures for its work. The Standing Committee made its main task for 2004 to implement the amended CPPCC Charter and formulate and improve supporting rules and regulations. After the Second Session of the Tenth National Committee, we focused on the following aspects of our work. First, we concentrated on organization work. A leading group was set up under the leadership of the Chairperson's Council to lead, plan and coordinate the work of establishing regulations. Second, research on policies relating to the rules and regulations was intensified. Nine research groups were formed under the leading group to study and discuss the amending of existing rules and regulations and formulation of needed rules and regulations. Third, we adhered to the mass line. A wide range of comments were solicited from CPPCC local committees, organizations participating in the CPPCC, subcommittees of the National Committee and its members through a variety of formats, such as meetings, forums and interviews. Fourth, designated procedures were strictly followed. The results of many studies made by the Chairperson's Council and the leading group for improving rules and regulations made it clear that CPPCC work must be institutionalized in accordance with a principle of progressing in a vigorous, steady and orderly manner while abiding by the CPPCC Charter. After nearly a year of work, the results were obtained in the efforts to improve rules and regulations. In accordance with the powers and proceduresdefined in the CPPCC Charter, the Chairperson's Council and the Standing Committee examined and approved the revised rules concerning their work and the work of the Secretary-General's Council. They also approved general rules for the subcommittees of the National Committee, regulations on handling proposals and inspection tours by its members as well as the newly formulated rules concerning the work of its plenary sessions and regulations on the work concerning information about social conditions and popular sentiment. The adoption of these eight sets of rules and regulations and their implementation will make our work more standardized, orderly and efficient. 5. Commemorating the centenary of the birth of Comrade Deng Xiaoping and further improving the theory of the CPPCC. The National Committee held a grand symposium on the commemoration of the centenary of the birth of Comrade Deng Xiaoping and on his theory of the CPPCC to fondly recall his monumental contributions, particularly to the cause of the CPPCC, and to thoroughly study and publicize that theory. The symposium systematically reviewed the substantial contributions made by the three generations of the CPC's central collective leadership with comrades Mao Zedong. Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin as their respective cores and the new central collective leadership with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary in shaping, enriching and developing the theory of the CPPCC. The symposium thoroughly expounded the basic ideas and viewpoints on the CPPCC that the Central Committee has been propounding for more than 50 years, especially since the introduction of the policy of reform and opening up in the late 1970s. The symposium further clarified the direction for the development of the CPPCC cause. All political parties, mass organizations, people from all ethnic groups and sectors of society and CPPCC committees at all levels as well as relevant experts and scholars enthusiastically responded to the convocation of this symposium, and they submitted more than 260 papers, reflecting theabundant achievements in research on the CPPCC theory in recent years. In addition, the central committees of the democratic parties, leaders of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and chairpersons of the CPPCC committees at the provincial level or committees of cities at the sub-provincial level published or posted nearly 100 articles hi the Journal of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and CPPCC China and on the website www.people.com.cn. These articles contained a series of new ideas, viewpoints and requirements set forth by the Central Committee for the work of the united front and the CPPCC. These ideas, viewpoints and requirements were firmly based on reality and were the result of conscientious study and deep reflection on the important issues in the development of the cause of the united front and the CPPCC. All this gave a strong impetus to innovation in the theory and work of the CPPCC. We worked much harder to publicize the CPPCC in line with the requirement to take the initiative, focus on priorities, take advantage of the characteristics of the CPPCC and strive for practical results. We used newspapers and magazines, radio and TV stations, websites and other mass media to carry out publicity. We asked the People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency and CCTV to establish journalists' desks in the building housing the National Committee, thus increasing our contacts and cooperation with the press. A weekly column entitled, "Deliberation of State Affairs and Suggestions" was initiated in the People's Daily to provide a new venue in which members of CPPCC committees can air their views. A segment was set up on www.people.com.cn to facilitate rapid, convenient and effective transmission of CPPCC news. During the celebration of the 55th anniversary of the founding of the CPPCC, we assisted CCTV in organizing an eight-part report on recent contributions of the participating political parties, which it included in its national news program. This report, which showed the important achievements the democratic parties had made in participating in state affairs, received a warm response from the generalpublic. 6. Intensifying efforts to strengthen unity and build friendship and playing a role in implementing the "one country, two systems"principle to promote reunification of the motherland. We adopted a number of means to increase our contacts and exchanges with National Committee members and people from all sectors of society in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions in order to better publicize the Party's and the government's principles and policies for the regions. Both regions continued to make progress last year in implementing the basic principle of "one country, two systems," under which Hong Kong people administer Hong Kong and Macao people administer Macao with a high degree of autonomy. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, interpreting pertinent provisions in the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, made a decision about the election of Hong Kong's chief executive in 2007 and the election of its Legislative Council in 2008. All this further clarified the guiding principles for the development of the political system of Hong Kong. The election of the third Legislative Council of Hong Kong went smoothly, and the election of Macao's second chief executive was a complete success. This consolidated and developed the political position of the forces in the special administrative regions that love the motherland and are devoted to their respective regions. Members of the National Committee and of its Standing Committee in Hong Kong and Macao actively participated in this work. They steadfastly upheld the basic laws of their respective regions, supported the central government and the governments of Hong Kong and Macao in handling matters in accordance with the law, contributed to the maintenance of social stability in Hong Kong and Macao, and helped promote the economic prosperity and development of their respective regions. The Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee made timely reports to our Hong Kong and Macao members on importantmeetings and activities of the National Committee and the country's economic and social development, organized inspection tours to the mainland for them, and encouraged them to contribute their ideas and their energy to national and local development. We continued to strengthen our ties with overseas Chinese nationals by inviting them to China and by visiting them abroad. We kept them informed of our motherland's development, solicited their opinions and reported them to the central authorities, and created the necessary conditions to enable them to serve the motherland. Addressing the current state of cross-Straits relations, we broadened our vision and diversified our work to promote peaceful reunification of the motherland while closely adhering to the strategic planning of the Party and the state for work relating to Taiwan. We organized National Committee members to carry out surveys and studies and take inspection tours in conjunction with issues of mutual concern to the people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. We promoted the study and publicity of the fine traditional culture of the Chinese nation in order to oppose "Taiwan independence" and promote national reunification from the perspective of culture and history. We cordially received individuals and groups from all walks of life in Taiwan and facilitated economic, scientific, technological and cultural exchanges as well as personal visits between the two sides of the straits. We worked hard to help our Taiwan compatriots understand and support the principles and policies of the motherland toward Taiwan and eliminate their suspicions and misunderstandings about certain issues. We strengthened our coordination with relevant departments in publicizing the basic principles of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems"and in expressing the aspiration shared by all political parties, mass organizations and ethnic groups as well as people from all walks of life for the complete reunification of the motherland in the near future. In their proposals, information and speeches, some democratic parties and NationalCommittee members called for the enactment of an anti-secession law as early as possible and voiced their resolve to oppose and check any kind of secessionist activities aimed at "Taiwan independence." 7. Energetically expanding the CPPCC's friendly contacts with foreign countries in coordination with China's overall diplomatic work. The CPPCC's friendly foreign contacts are an important part of China's overall diplomatic work. Following a principle of being active, steadfast and pragmatic and taking the safeguarding of world peace and promotion of common development as its objective, the Standing Committee strengthened its friendly exchange and cooperation with foreign institutions and international organizations and constantly expanded the CPPCC's foreign contacts. While maintaining and developing our high-level foreign contacts, we worked hard to expand our other foreign contacts on all fronts and at all levels by taking full advantage of the broadly representative nature of the CPPCC and its many outstanding members. While working hard to develop bilateral contacts, we also deepened multilateral contacts. While developing contacts with government institutions, we also worked hard to develop contacts with non-government bodies. During these activities with Chinese characteristics, we discussed economic and social development in China and expressed China's hope to develop friendly ties with all countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. We also explained the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC and exchanged views on matters of mutual concern. Particularly on issues pertaining to China's sovereignty and vital interests, we were quite effective in enhancing understanding, deepening friendship, expanding consensus and promoting cooperation. The China Economic and Social Council (CESC) and the China Committee on Religion and Peace played an important role in strengthening exchange and cooperation with major internationalorganizations and non-government bodies. Cooperation between the CESC and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) was written into the Joint Declaration of the Seventh China-EU Summit and incorporated into the framework for China-EU cooperation. Relevant subcommittees of the National Committee and the National Population and Family Planning Commission jointly sponsored and organized the International Forum on Population and Development. The Yangtze Declaration, which was signed and promulgated by the 21 members of the Partners in Population and Development (Partners), was listed as an official document of the 59th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. We also held the Symposium on Industrial Restructuring and Reemployment jointly with the EESC. During the past year, the National Committee sent 29 delegations or groups to 44 countries and received 28 delegations from 23 countries and 3 international organizations. It established friendly relations with 6 countries and 13 foreign institutions. The National Committee has now established ties and engaged hi friendly exchanges with 184 institutions in 107 countries and with 8 international and regional organizations. 8. Strengthening links with CPPCC local committees and working with them to carry out CPPCC work. Members of the Chairperson's Council continued to stay firmly in touch with the realities of life by visiting lower-level organizations for investigations and studies. They visited CPPCC local committees and met with cadres from these committees and democratic parties to solicit their opinions and suggestions on how to improve CPPCC work. The first-ever meeting of CPPCC secretaries-general in the new period was held, during which participants reviewed and shared the results and experiences of the work of CPPCC local committees and discussed problems that CPPCC committees at all levels faced in their work. The subcommittees of the National Committee improved communication with their local counterparts by carrying outjoint investigations, discussions and training sessions. The new guiding principles and requirements of the Central Committee for CPPCC work were circulated, major activities of CPPCC local committees and their work experiences were reported, and the National Committee's understanding of CPPCC work at local levels was improved through the timely publishing of the CPPCC News. An information network was set up and improved. We provided better guidance for reporting on social conditions and popular sentiment by CPPCC local committees to assist them hi informing the Central Committee and State Council of important developments and suggestions. We held a meeting to discuss the education and training of CPPCC cadres. We improved the professional training for cadres in CPPCC local committees. Five training sessions were held at the training center of the National Committee, during which a total of 1,764 leaders of local committees received training. Priority was given to publicizing CPPCC work performed at the local level. Newspapers and periodicals published by the National Committee devoted a special page or column in every issue to report on the work and experiences of local committees. The progress and achievements made by the Standing Committee during the past year are attributable to the firm leadership of the Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary, the concerted efforts of participating organizations of the CPPCC and members of CPPCC committees, and the support of Party and government departments at all levels and all sectors of society. On behalf of the Standing Committee, I now extend our sincere thanks to all of them.Fellow Members, Reviewing the work of the past year, we have become more keenly aware that some important principles for the work of the CPPCC represent both treasures from the past and basic lessons that we must hold on to longinto the future, and therefore, we must cherish them all the more. - Upholding the leadership of the CPC. This is politically the primary prerequisite for vigorous development of China's socialist multiparty cooperation and the basic guarantee for sound development of the cause of the CPPCC. We must uphold and improve the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC and unswervingly take the road of socialist political development with Chinese characteristics. We must constantly fortify our thinking with Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents so they can guide and drive our work. We should follow the lead of the Central Committee in terms of ideology and politics and in our work. In upholding the Party's ideological line, we should continue to emancipate our minds, seek truth from facts and keep pace with the times, and ensure that the cause of the CPPCC truly conforms to the times, follows the laws of development and displays great creativity. - Giving top priority to promoting development in carrying out CPPCC functions. Development is essential for solving the various problems facing China now and represents the common aspiration of all the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation both at home and abroad. We should firmly bear in mind that the work of the CPPCC is a component of the work of the Party and the state. Centering on the central task, we should serve the overall interests of the country and fully implement a scientific outlook on development. We should more closely unite all political parties, mass organizations and people from all ethnic groups and sectors of society to concentrate on development and demonstrate the importance of the CPPCC by promoting development of the country and revitalization of the nation. - Adhering to the main themes of unity and democracy. Unity and democracy under the leadership of the CPC represent the very essence of the CPPCC. They are the historical foundation for the establishment anddevelopment of the CPPCC. We must always keep these two themes in mind and apply them in all facets of our work and during the entire course of the development of the CPPCC. We should unite all forces that can be united and mobilize all positive factors to contribute to realization of the grand goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. - Continuing work to standardize, institutionalize and define procedures for the execution of our functions. These represent the major functions of the CPPCC and constitute an important aspect of socialist democracy and socialist political civilization. We should improve the system of holding consultations before decisions are made on relevant major issues and intensify political consultation in an organized and planned way. We need to improve the mechanism for democratic oversight, improve the channels for reporting local conditions to higher levels, and increase democratic consultation. We should solicit opinions from all quarters about major issues in reform and development and actively participate in the deliberation and administration of state affairs. We should work hard to promote the institutionalization and standardization of political consultation, democratic oversight and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs and define procedures for this work. - Steadfastly taking the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people as the starting and ending points in the work of the CPPCC. Keeping abreast of and reporting on social conditions and popular sentiment and assisting the Party and the government in realizing, safeguarding and developing the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people constitutes an important basis for the performance of CPPCC functions and the carrying out of its work. We must always put the interests of the people first, keep up with the true situation in society, go down to the lower levels, maintain close ties with the people, listen to what they have to say, keep abreast oftheir desires, report on their demands and do everything possible to assist the Party and the government to resolve the practical difficulties of the people. We will balance the interests of all quarters to ensure that all our people share the fruits of reform and development. When reviewing our work over the past year, we must also realize that there are still many shortcomings in light of the new situation, the new tasks and the expectations of members of CPPCC committees. For example, we need to further clarify and improve the scope of our functions and the form of and procedures for their performance to satisfy the Central Committee's requirement that CPPCC work be institutionalized and standardized and that all procedures be clearly defined. We need to strengthen our self-improvement efforts and genuinely become better able to participate in the deliberation and administration of state affairs. We need to give a greater role in the CPPCC to the democratic parties and people without party affiliations and be even more effective in taking advantage of the unique features of the CPPCC as an important organ of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC. We need to arouse the initiative of all members of CPPCC committees and better exploit their leading role. We need to constantly review our experiences and blaze new paths to gradual improvement in all this work in the future. II The year 2005 is crucial for completing all the tasks of the Tenth Five-Year Plan [2001-2005] and laying a solid foundation for economic and social development during the Eleventh Five-Year Plan period [2006-2010]. The guiding ideology and general requirements for the work of the Standing Committee in 2005 are: to be guided by Deng XiaopingTheory and the important thought of Three Represents, thoroughly implement the guiding principles of the Sixteenth National Congress of the CPC and the Third and Fourth Plenary Sessions of its Sixteenth Central Committee, fully implement a scientific outlook on development, uphold and improve the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC, keep the themes of unity and democracy in mind at all times, be truly effective in performing all the functions of the CPPCC, and devote our energy to carrying out reform and opening up and the modernization drive, promoting all-round, balanced and sustainable development of the economy and society, and building a harmonious socialist society. We must further emancipate our minds, seek truth from facts, better serve the overall interests of the country and further improve the CPPCC. 1. Making suggestions on major issues affecting the country's economic and social development. We will conscientiously implement the guiding principles of the Central Economic Work Conference. We will mobilize and organize all the parties, organizations and people from all ethnic groups and sectors of society that participate in the CPPCC to carry out in-depth investigations and studies. They can then make suggestions on how to fully implement a scientific outlook on development, strengthen and improve macroregulation, give more support to agriculture, rural areas and farmers, accelerate adjustment of the economic structure and change in the pattern of economic growth, promote balanced development among regional economies, move forward with economic restructuring, open wider to the outside world, and transform government functions. In performing its functions and making proposals, the CPPCC will focus this year on assisting the Party and the government in formulating the Eleventh Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Program Through the Year 2020. The subcommittees of the National Committee will continue to investigate andstudy the major issues involved in the formulation of the plan and the program and make comments and suggestions to serve as a basis and reference for policy decisions of the Central Committee and State Council. After the draft plan and program are published for comments, we will hold a conference for experts and scholars, mainly from the relevant subcommittees, to discuss them. After the Central Committee formulates its proposal for the plan and the program, we will arrange for members of the Standing Committee to carefully study and fully discuss the proposal, draw on their opinions, write up reports on specific suggestions and present them to the Central Committee to help promote the long-term development of the country. 2. Working hard to contribute to the building of a harmonious socialist society. Building a harmonious socialist society is a major task set by the Central Committee by taking into account the overall interests of the drive to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects and to enter a new phase of the effort to build socialism with Chinese characteristics. The CPPCC is the most inclusive organization in the patriotic united front in China, and its basic tasks, work themes, organizational structure, operational mechanism, specific work and mode of action are all closely related to building a harmonious socialist society. It therefore should and can play an important role in this work. We should conscientiously study the important speech Comrade Hu Jintao delivered at the Seminar for Improving the Ability of Leading Provincial- and Ministerial-Level Cadres to Build a Harmonious Socialist Society, attain a good grasp of the great significance, scientific connotation and major tasks of building such a society, and consciously shoulder the historical mission of serving that initiative. We should earnestly work to ensure that all political parties, mass organizations and people from different ethnic groups and sectors of society work together, mobilize all positive factors to the broadest and fullest extent, and constantly promote enhancement of the creativity of thewhole society. We should assist in the implementation of the state's ethnic and religious policies, consolidate and develop socialist ethnic relationships characterized by equality, unity and mutual assistance and encourage and support religious groups to take further steps to adapt to socialist society. We should correctly handle conflicts among the people in the new situation and assist the Party and the government in balancing relationships, ameliorating conflicts, allaying resentments and maintaining stability. We should arrange for CPPCC committee members from all sectors of society to engage in consultation and discussion on policy issues related to building a harmonious socialist society, vigorously explore ways and means for the CPPCC to contribute to efforts to build such a society, effectively bring the unique role of the CPPCC into full play, and contribute to building a socialist society that is democratic and law-based, fair and just, trustworthy and friendly, full of vigor and vitality, secure and orderly, and in which man and nature are in harmony. 3. Bringing the role of the democratic parties and people without party affiliations in the CPPCC into full play. The system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC conforms to our national conditions and is a political system and system of political parties with Chinese characteristics. As an important organ for multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC, the CPPCC should energetically carry out the requirements of the Central Committee and provisions of the CPPCC Charter, strengthen unity and cooperation among political parties, and give full play to the role of the democratic parties and people without party affiliations in the CPPCC. We should conscientiously study and carry out the Guidelines of the CPC Central Committee on Further Strengthening the System of Multiparty Cooperation and Political Consultation Under the Leadership of the CPC to gain a good grasp of its guiding principles and essential points. We should also carry out investigations and studies on how we can best embody thefeatures and advantages of China's system of political parties and measures and ways to do so in accordance with the above guidelines and the provisions of the CPPCC Charter. The results of these investigations and studies will then be used to formulate feasible work plans. We will successfully hold a plenary session of the National Committee, meetings of the Standing Committee and the Chairperson's Council, seminars of the Standing Committee and meetings of the subcommittees of the National Committee and ensure success in consultations between the CPC and the democratic parties and representatives of all sectors of society through the CPPCC. We should strengthen our contacts with the democratic parties and people without party affiliations and pay close attention to their criticism and oversight. We should keep members of CPPCC committees who are members of democratic parties or people without party affiliations informed of relevant developments in a timely manner, safeguard their right to perform their duties, and create favorable working conditions for them. 4. Working harder to carry out the functions of political consultation, democratic oversight, and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs. We need to conscientiously carry out consultations before major policy decisions and decisions on important political, economic, cultural and social issues are made, as well as during their implementation. We must extensively listen to the opinions of all quarters and genuinely make political consultation an important link that pools people's wisdom to help the Party and the government make scientific and democratic decisions. We need to strengthen democratic oversight, mainly by making proposals and criticisms, and fully play our role in overseeing the enforcement of the Constitution, laws and regulations, the implementation of major principles and policies, and the work of government bodies and their employees. We will work hard to expand our participation in the deliberation andadministration of state affairs, enrich the forms of participation, and increase the effectiveness of our participation. We will investigate, study and review the implementation of the Regulations of the CPPCC National Committee Regarding Political Consultation, Democratic Oversight and Participation in the Deliberation and Administration of State Affairs, which the Central Committee approved ten years ago. On the basis of a series of new guidelines and requirements set by the Central Committee for the work of the CPPCC and a review of the practical experience of all CPPCC local committees, we will make suggestions to the Central Committee on how to further strengthen the CPPCC's work of political consultation, democratic oversight and participation in the deliberation and administration of state affairs in order to provide an institutional guarantee for the CPPCC to perform its functions and carry out its work. 5. Continuing to successfully carry out the work related to our compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and overseas Chinese. The CPPCC must conscientiously follow the principles and policies of the Central Committee in this work. We should conduct research and hold discussions on the affairs of our compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and of overseas Chinese that are of strategic importance and affect the overall interests as they come up, and put forward constructive comments and suggestions. We will strengthen our contacts with the National Committee members in Hong Kong and Macao in various ways and unite with Hong Kong and Macao people who love the motherland and are devoted to their respective regions in order to exploit their positive role in promoting prosperity, stability and development in Hong Kong and Macao. We need to increase ties with people from all sectors of society and organizations in Taiwan and work harder to win popular support. We must oppose and check secessionist activities aimed at "Taiwan independence"and safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits. We will continue to strengthen ties with overseas Chinese and returned overseas Chinese andtheir relatives, cany out all kinds of activities to strengthen friendly ties overseas, promote fine Chinese culture, strongly support Chinese language learning and protect the lawful rights and interests of returned overseas Chinese and their relatives. We will give play to the unique role of overseas Chinese in the strategy of using science, technology and education to reinvigorate the nation and human resources to strengthen the nation by continuing to organize experts and scholars among them to make proposals concerning China's economic and social development. We will work with overseas Chinese to promote the reunification of the motherland, and support and participate in activities throughout the world organized by overseas Chinese and people of Chinese origin that oppose "Taiwan independence" and promote national reunification. We will extensively solicit comments and suggestions from our compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and overseas Chinese from all sectors of society and make timely reports on them to the central authorities and competent departments. 6. Earnestly working to improve the CPPCC. We will continue to organize CPPCC committee members to thoroughly study Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents, the guiding principles of the Sixteenth National Congress of the CPC and the Third and Fourth Plenary Sessions of its Sixteenth Central Committee, the important speech Comrade Hu Jintao delivered at a conference celebrating the 55th anniversary of the founding of the CPPCC, the major principles and policies of the Party and the state, the basic theories of the united front and the CPPCC, and economic, managerial, scientific and technological, and legal knowledge. This will help our members constantly improve their ability to carry out their functions and do their work. We need to enrich the content of our study, improve its methodology and systems, and strive to ensure that all the members of the current National Committee receive training on a rotating basis within their term of service. We will earnestlystrengthen theoretical research on the CPPCC by formulating a research plan, training researchers, making preparations to establish a CPPCC Theoretical Research Association, and increasing cooperation and exchange with theoretical research departments of CPPCC local committees and other research organizations to produce high-quality research results. We will improve the style of work of CPPCC bodies and strengthen awareness of the need to provide quality services among their employees. We must do a good job in selecting, appointing, transferring and training cadres of CPPCC bodies and pay close attention to their growth and progress in order to develop a contingent of high-caliber cadres who are politically sound, have a fine style of work and are very knowledgeable and professionally competent. CPC organizations and members that belong to CPPCC bodies and CPC members who are CPPCC committee members must actively participate in the Education Campaign to Preserve the Advanced Nature of Party Members as required by the CPC Central Committee. They should improve themselves ideologically and politically and implement the important thought of Three Represents more consciously and steadfastly. CPC organizations should serve as the leadership core and Party members should stand as vanguards and models to drive and promote improvement of the CPPCC. In addition to accomplishing the important tasks mentioned above, we should continue to successfully carry out our day-to-day work, including conducting surveys on special topics, making proposals, taking inspection tours, reporting on social conditions and popular sentiment and developing foreign contacts. We should strengthen our ties with CPPCC local committees and provide more effective guidance over their work. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese people's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and in the world's war against fascism. We should pay particular attention to this anniversary and carefully organize commemorative activities in accordance with thearrangements of the Central Committee. We should also successfully carry out major activities such as the 21st Century Forum to invigorate the CPPCC's work and make it more fruitful.Fellow Members, China's reform and development are now in a crucial period, and prospects for the cause of the CPPCC are vast and bright. 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, forge ahead in a pioneering spirit, be of one heart and one mind, pool everyone's wisdom and efforts, and work in a down-to-earth manner to make new and even greater contributions to building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and achieving the lofty goal of rejuvenating the Chinese nation.