A total of 2,237 people have been chosen as members of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the national political advisory body, with 60.1 percent of non-Communist Party members.

The namelist was approved earlier this week at a Standing Committee meeting of the 10th CPPCC National Committee. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) had previously proposed a preliminary namelist to the top advisory body for examination.

Du Qinglin, head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, said the preliminary namelist had been discussed by various departments, political parties and organizations throughout the country before it was submitted to the CPC Central Committee.

According to the final namelist, 892 people are Communist Party members, who account for 39.9 percent of the total. In addition, 44.9 percent of people with the 10th CPPCC National Committee have retained their membership in the new national committee, and there are 55.1 percent of new members.

On the whole, the average age of the new national committee members is 55.3 years, nearly two years younger than that of the present committee.

The 11th CPPCC National Committee is scheduled to convene its first annual session beginning March 3.

Du explained that the new CPPCC National Committee is composed of esteemed experts in different social sectors, including those from the religious circle and all ethnic groups, and personages from Hong Kong and Macao.

He also said 92.4 percent of the members have an educational background of at or above college, up nearly seven percentage points.

(Xinhua News Agency January 26, 2008)