国内英语新闻:CPC consults with non-Communist party elites on next five-year development plan

BEIJING, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee recently held a meeting to solicit opinions and recommendations of non-Communist party members about the national development plan for the next half-decade, according to a statement Xinhua received Tuesday.

At the meeting, Chinese President Hu Jintao, also General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, briefed leaders of the non-Communist parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, as well as other celebrities without party affiliations, on the drawing up of the documents of the Fifth Plenum of the 17th CPC Central Committee.

In the communique, issued after the four-day plenum concluded Monday, the CPC set the development agenda for the next five years with key objectives to achieve breakthroughs in economic restructuring and improve living standards nationwide.

Chairpersons of the eight non-Communist parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and Chen Zhu, the health minister who is not a member of any political party, said they agreed with the CPC Central Committee's overall concept and arrangement of the development plan for the next five years.

They also made suggestions on issues, including the transformation of the economic growth mode, fostering emerging industries with strategic importance and improving China's innovative edge.

After hearing their speeches, Hu said the CPC would earnestly study and adopt these opinions, and it would continue to expand and consolidate the patriotic united front to pool all forces that can be united to build a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way.

In a separate meeting Tuesday, Du Qinglin, head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, explained the key points of the speeches by CPC General Secretary Hu Jintao and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at the plenum to leaders of the non-Communist parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, as well as other celebrities without party affiliations.