CPPCC's new leader vows not to copy Western political systems

BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The newly-elected leader of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) pledged Tuesday that China will not copy Western political systems under any circumstances.

"We need to steadfastly uphold the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), adhere to and improve the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC," said Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the 12th CPPCC National Committee, the country's top political advisory body.

"We need to more strictly follow the socialist path of political development with Chinese characteristics, not imitate Western political systems under any circumstances, always adhere to the correct political orientation, and strengthen the CPPCC's ideological and political foundations of collective struggle," Yu told more than 2,000 political advisors at the closing meeting of the first session of the 12th CPPCC National Committee.

Yu, born in April 1945, was elected to the new post on Monday. He is also member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.