The Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is a great creation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) which combines the Marxist-Leninist theories on united front, political party and democracy with Chinas concrete practice. It is also a great achievement of the CPC who stands together and works hard in unity with all democratic parties, mass organizations and personages from all ethnic groups and various sectors of society.
Held on September 21, 1949 in Beiping (now Beijing), the First Plenary Session of the CPPCC was attended by representatives from the Communist Party of China, all democratic parties, personages without party affiliation, mass organizations, regions, the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army, ethnic groups, overseas Chinese and other patriotic democrats . The Session exercised the functions and powers of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) and represented the will of the people of the whole country. It adopted a provisional constitution entitled the Common Program of the CPPCC, the Organic Law of the CPPCC and the Organic Law of the Central Peoples Government of the Peoples Republic of China. It selected Beijing as the capital of the Peoples Republic of China, made the five-star red flag the national flag, chose the March of the Volunteers as the national anthem and decided that China should adopt the Gregorian calendar. The session also elected the First National Committee of the CPPCC and the Central Peoples Government Council of the Peoples Republic of China. It proclaimed the founding of the Peoples Republic of China and turned the first page in the history of New China.
After the founding of New China, as a united front and consultative organization, the National Committee of the CPPCC and its Standing Committee played an important role in frequent consultations on the implementation of the states general principles and made great contributions to restoring and developing the national economy, consolidating the newly emerged peoples political power, assisting the government in carrying out social reforms and expanding the peoples democratic united front.
The First Session of the First NPC was held in September 1954. It adopted the Constitution of the Peoples Republic of China. In December of the same year, the CPPCC Charter was passed at the First Session of the Second National Committee of the CPPCC. The Charter states that the Common Program has been replaced by the Constitution and that the Plenary Session of the CPPCC will no longer exercise the functions and powers of the NPC. But the CPPCC will continue to exist and play the role of a united front organization. After the First Session of the Second National Committee of the CPPCC, local committees of the CPPCC were established respectively in all provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government.
For over 10 years from 1955 to 1966, the CPPCC played a very important role in uniting the people of all ethnic groups as well as all patriotic forces, promoting peoples democracy, enlivening the countrys political and social activities and mobilizing all positive factors to serve Chinas development.
When China was in a new period of reform, opening up and modernization drive in 1978, the CPPCC also entered a new period of development. Concentrating on promoting reform, opening up, modernization drive and the reunification of the motherland, CPPCC committees at all levels took the initiative to deliberate on state affairs, offer advice, maintain social stability and unity, cement ties with compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan as well as overseas Chinese and increase the understanding, exchanges and cooperation with all the countries and their peoples in the world. They played a crucial role in Chinas political, economic, cultural and social activities.
As we enter the new century and a new stage of development, Chinas united front has further expanded and become the broadest possible patriotic united front composed of all socialist workers, builders of the socialist cause and patriots who support socialism and the reunification of the motherland. The CPPCC has also become a patriotic united front organization, including the above personages and representatives from all political parties, mass organizations, ethnic groups and various sectors of society. It conscientiously implements a set of major strategic thinking such as the Scientific Outlook on Development and building a socialist harmonious society put forward by the CPC Central Committee. On the basis of carrying on its fine traditions and working experience, it blazes new trails in a pioneering spirit, continues to explore new ways and displays new dynamism in its work.
The more than 50 years of CPPCCs extraordinary development can boil down to two themes: unity and democracy. The unity and democracy led by the CPC are an embodiment of the nature of the CPPCC, the historical and realistic basis for the emergence and development of the CPPCC and the direction and mission of the CPPCC to carry forward the revolutionary cause and forge ahead into the future. The CPPCC will play an increasingly important role in developing the great cause of building socialism with Chinese characteristics and achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Mao Zedong
Chairman of the First National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference
Zhou Enlai
Chairman of the Second, Third and Fourth National Committees of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference
Deng Xiaoping
Chairman of the Fifth National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference
Deng Yingchao
Chairwoman of the Sixth National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference
Li Xiannian
Chairman of the Seventh National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference
Li Ruihuan
Chairman of the Eighth and Ninth National Committees of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference
Jia Qinglin
Chairman of the Tenth and Eleventh National Committees of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference