国内英语新闻:Top political advisor vows to help promote economy, stability

BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Jia Qinglin Saturday vowed to make more efforts to stimulate the "steady and robust" development of the country's economy and promote social stability.

Jia made the pledge in a report delivered at the opening meeting of the Fifth Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body.

Jia, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, said the tasks of the CPPCC will be heavy in 2012, as it is an important year for carrying forward the implementation of the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015).

The 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which Jia said has "immense and far-reaching significance," will also be held this year.

Jia said the CPPCC will effectively work to "coordinate relations, pool strengths and provide proposals and advice to policymakers."

He said the CPPCC will make the promotion of scientific development a top priority while carrying out its duties, vigorously develop the real economy and maintain steady and robust economic development.

The CPPCC will coordinate democratic parties, industrial federations and related organizations in making proposals and suggestions on major economic issues such as expanding domestic consumer demand and maintaining price stability, he said.

Jia referred to promoting social harmony and stability as a "bounden duty" of the CPPCC. He said a consultative meeting on how to strengthen and innovate social administration will be held this year.

The CPPCC will carry out investigations, studies and deliberation on major issues in social development, including strengthening the development of institutions and mechanisms for social administration, improving the supervision of non-public economic organizations and social organizations and deepening reforms of the income distribution system, Jia said.

He also pledged to give impetus to cultural reform and development by taking advantage of the CPPCC's talents and cultural resources.

Jia promised to deepen the development of pragmatic exchanges with Taiwan and help the people of Taiwan, especially young people, to identify more closely with the Chinese nation and culture.

He vowed to make greater use of the CPPCC's special advantages in developing external relations in line with China's overall arrangements for diplomatic work in order to create a favorable external environment and conditions for the smooth implementation of the 12th Five-Year Plan.

"We will actively engage in high-level visits with foreign countries, strengthen and develop traditional friendships, increase mutual political trust with relevant countries and strive to win the international community's understanding of and support for China's concept of scientific, harmonious, peaceful and cooperative development," said Jia.

The CPPCC made important contributions toward implementing the 12th Five-Year Plan and winning new victories in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, Jia said while reviewing the achievements of the CPPCC over the past year.

CPPCC National Committee members submitted 6,076 proposals over the past year. As of Feb. 20 this year, 5,583 proposals had been handled, Lin Wenyi, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, said in a report delivered at the session's opening meeting.

"Promoting the international spread of Chinese culture is what I care about the most," said Chen Weiya, a CPPCC National Committee member and a film director, saying that the report gives a great deal of attention to the cultural industry.

The annual session of the CPPCC National Committee is scheduled to conclude on March 13. More than 2,000 members of the CPPCC National Committee will discuss major issues concerning the country's development during the period.

Top CPC and state leaders Hu Jintao, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang attended the opening meeting.

Founded in 1949, the CPPCC consists of elite members of Chinese society who work as an advisory body for the government, as well as for legislative and judicial organs.

The meeting was broadcast live on China National Radio, China Central Television (CCTV) and China Radio International. The country's major news websites also covered the event.