Established in 1949, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) has created a glorious history over the past 7 decades.

The closing meeting of the second session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

The first plenary session of the CPPCC was convened in Sept. 1949 after the Chinese people achieved the historic victory for their national independence and liberation. It announced the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

Over the past 70 years, the CPPCC has taken an active part in the great endeavor of establishing and building a new China, exploring the path of reform and realizing the Chinese dream.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held in 2012, under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with General Secretary Xi Jinping at the core, the CPPCC has performed its functions centered on the two major themes of unity and democracy, and given full play to its role as a major channel for socialist consultative democracy and a specialist consultative body.

Seeking development through the inheritance of traditions and making innovation from development, the CPPCC has earnestly performed its functions, made political advice, built consensus, gathered strengths and served the big picture, making new contribution to the development of the causes of the Party and the country.

Facts have proved that the CPPCC is rooted in Chinese history and culture, originates from the great struggle of the Chinese people’s revolution since the beginning of modern times, and has developed through the brilliant praxis of socialism with Chinese characteristics. It is quintessentially Chinese, and constitutes an important force for making China prosperous and strong, rejuvenating the Chinese nation, and bringing happiness to the people.

As a basic political system of China, the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC is a great political creation of the Party, the Chinese people, the democratic parties and non-party personages.

It is a new type of party system growing from China’s soil. This system stresses both the CPC leadership and socialist democracy. It fits China’s reality and fine traditional culture of the Chinese nation that all parties should work together for the common good, accommodate each other and seek common ground while shelving differences. It is a great contribution to political philosophy of humanity.

People’s hearts are the biggest politics while consensus lead to endeavor. Over the past 70 years, the CPPCC has gained valuable experiences through practices and established important guiding principles for its work.

To do a good job in the work of the CPPCC in the new era, it is important to uphold the leadership of the CPC, bear in mind that the leadership of the CPC is the most essential feature of the socialism with Chinese characteristics and a fundamental guarantee for the development and progress of the CPPCC’s cause.

The CPPCC should constantly make advances in all its work and programs on the basis of accurately identifying its position in accordance with the Constitution and laws of China as well as its own Charter.

It is important that the CPPCC upholds great unity and cooperation in carrying out its work, mobilizes all positive factors to the greatest possible extent, unites with everyone that can be united with, and channels their energies into a powerful force to serve the great cause.

The CPPCC should fulfill its duties considering the people in the first place, carry forward socialist democracy, enrich the forms of democracy, keep channels of democracy open, organize for political parties, people’s organizations, ethnic groups, social strata, and persons from all sectors of society to deliberate on state affairs, and strive to bring about broad and effective people’s democracy.

The report to the 19th CPC National Congress pointed out that the essence of the people’s democracy is that the people get to discuss their own affairs.

To advance in the new era, the CPPCC should make more contribution to state governance, practice democracy during the whole process of its work, and make efforts to deliver better political advice and build more consensuses.