Advisory body sharpens focus

New leaders bring expertise, diversity in reduced ranks

The top political advisory body elected a smaller but more diversified new generation of leaders on Monday to guide its development for the next five years.

Yu Zhengsheng, born in April 1945, was elected to lead the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Another 23 vice-chairpersons were elected at the plenary meeting of the first session of the 12th CPPCC National Committee, two fewer than five years ago for the 11th CPPCC National Committee.

Notably, two influential financial figures — Zhou Xiaochuan, governor of the People's Bank of China, and Chen Yuan, chairman of the China Development Bank — are among the newly elected vice-chairpersons. No members of the previous leadership of the CPPCC National Committee had a comparable background.

Other vice-chairpersons include representatives of eight non-Communist parties, leaders of some Communist Party of China central departments and provincial committees, former chief executives of special administrative regions and leaders of ethnic autonomous regions.

CPPCC members said a more concise leadership is in line with the call for fewer leaders, and two new vice-chairmen with a financial background may help the political advisory body offer more detailed advice for the country's economic development.