Leaders of China's top political advisory body met on Tuesday to call for ideas to help the balanced development of the country's urban and rural areas.

The chairman and vice chairpersons of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) agreed that balanced urban and rural development was vital to opening up new prospects for the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The meeting called for all CPPCC members to continue submitting good ideas to help resolve key development problems.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, presided over the meeting.

They congratulated China's athletes and the success of the Beijing Olympic Games.

They also agreed to hold the Third Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in October.

(Xinhua News Agency August 27, 2008)