China Democratic League national congress opens (2)

BEIJING, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- The 11th National Congress of the China Democratic League (CDL), one of the country's non-communist parties, opened in Beijing on Sunday.

Zhang Gaoli, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met the participants in the congress and read a letter from the CPC Central Committee, congratulating the CDL on the opening of its national congress and hailing the patriotic, revolutionary and glorious history of the CDL founded over 70 years ago.

Since its founding, the CDL has made strenuous efforts and offered proposals for the revitalization of the Chinese nation, for the country's economic and social development, and for the wellbeing of the Chinese people, the letter read.

The letter summed up the country's progress on the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics since the CPC's 17th National Congress in 2007, saying the past five years witnessed the development of multiparty cooperation between the CPC and non-communist parties.

Over the past five years, the CDL made new contributions to the country's great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics by playing the role of a participating party, according to the letter.

Efforts to build up an overall prosperous society and achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation call for pooling together the wisdom and power of Chinese people from different ethnic groups, as well as non-communist party members and those without party affiliation, the letter said.

The CDL was asked to continue its close cooperation with the CPC, which is a good tradition developed by the elders of the league, according to the letter.

Zhou Tienong, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and chairman of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, also addressed the opening of the CDL congress on behalf of the country's non-communist parties.

Jiang Shusheng, executive chairman of the Presidium of the 11th CDL congress, delivered a work report on behalf of the 10th Central Committee of the CDL.

The congress is scheduled to examine and approve an amendment to the party's charter and elect a new CDL Central Committee.