The 4th Plenary Session of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top advisory body, held its first press conference in Beijing on Thursday afternoon to brief the media on procedures to be observed and the session's agenda. The session will commence on March 3 and will run until March 13, announced Wu Jianmin, the CPPCC spokesman.

According to Wu, the chief agenda for the session includes: to hear and examine the report on the work of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee by Jia Qinglin, chairman of the 10th National Committee of the CPPCC; to hear and examine a report on the proposals made since the 3rd Session of the 10th CPPCC National Committee by Vice Chairman Luo Haocai; to attend the 4th Session of the 10th National People's Conference (NPC) as non-voting members; to hear and discuss the report on the work of the government to be delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao; to discuss the draft 11th Five-Year Development Guidelines (2006-2010); and to review and adopt political resolutions of the 4th Session of the 10th National Committee of the CPPCC.

The opening and closing ceremonies as well three presentation meetings will be open to the press. Journalists from domestic and foreign media will also have the opportunity to cover certain group discussions and the joint discussions of different groups. Two press conferences and one group interview have been scheduled during which CPPCC national committee members will take questions from the media relating to suggestions and recommendations of CPPCC members on the blueprint of the 11th Five-Year Guidelines.

All preparatory work for the session has been completed. Up to12 PM today, 1,361 out of 2,280 members of the CPPCC National Committee had registered with the Secretariat. The deadline for the submission of motions is 5 PM March 8. The deadline for the submission of speeches is 10 PM March 5. So far, the Secretariat has received 466 motions and 435 speeches.

Wu also mentioned the Opinions on Strengthening the Work of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) issued Wednesday by the General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. The opinions fully recognize the important contributions that the CPPCC has made in the political, economic and social spheres.

The opinions explain the nature, role and status of the CPPCC, its mission and working principles for the new century. They regulate the procedures and system of the CPPCC. They also emphasize the aim to improve the internal workings of the CPPCC, Wu said.

Responding to a question on issues that concern national committee members the most during the coming session, Wu said: “The major issues relate to the formation and implementation of the 11th Five-Year Guidelines, building a new socialist countryside, building an innovation-oriented country, building an energy saving and environmentally friendly society, promoting the coordinated development of the regional economy, promoting the construction of a harmonious society, accelerating the reform of the social security system, medical reform, and production safety.”

Profile of Wu Jianmin

Born on March 30, 1939, in Chongqing Municipality

Former spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and director of the ministry’s Information Department; Ambassador to the Netherlands; Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland; Ambassador to France

Currently serving as President, International Exhibitions Bureau; President, China Foreign Affairs University; Vice Director, CPPCC Foreign Affairs Committee

(China.org.cn by staff reporter Wang Qian, March 2, 2006)