CRI听力:Top Political Advisor Urges Further Anti-graft Efforts

Opening this year's session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Chair Yu Zhengsheng has used his opening address to caution the advisory body that they need to stay on the right path.

"We also need to note that 14 people, including Ling Jihua and Su Rong, have been expelled from the Twelfth National Committee since it was formed in 2013. We must take this as a warning and strengthen the building of our team to continue to stay firmly on the path of improving Party conduct, upholding integrity, and combating corruption."

Two vice-chairs of the CPPCC National Committee, Ling Jihua and Su Rong, are currently under investigation for corruption.

Ling Jihua is under investigation for "suspected serious disciplinary violation."

The allegations against Su Rong have been made a bit more clear.

He's being probed for allegations he accepted huge bribes for promoting his subordinates.

A CPPCC meeting last month removed Ling from his post as CPPCC National Committee vice chair.

He's also been stripped of his CPPCC membership.

CPPCC spokesperson Lv Xinhua, speaking ahead of the opening of the annual session, has also warned the political advisory body is no harbor for corrupt officials.

Forging ahead with his opening address, Yu Zhengsheng says one of the other main issues the CPPCC has to deal with this year is the slowing of the Chinese economy.

In noting that, Yu Zhengsheng has pointed out the CPPCC last year managed to rally support for a series of reforms to change the overall structure of the Chinese economy, on top of giving suggestions which have led to more judicial independence and government transparency.

Defining this year as a critical year for taking reform even further, Yu Zhengsheng notes this is the year the government needs to create a new 5-year plan.

"CPPCC will focus suggestions and proposals on reform and development. Deliberating and making suggestions on the formulation of the 13th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development is a priority in our work this year."

Other areas of note during Yu Zhengsheng's speech included the "Belt and Road" initiatives, as well as air pollution in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang were in attendance at Tuesday's meeting along-side over 21-hundred members of the CPPCC national committee.

The annual session is due to run until next Friday.

The other half of "Lianghui," or "two-sessions," the National People's Congress, is set to open this Thursday.

For CRI, I'm Qi Zhi.