CPPCC's new leader vows to promote consultative democracy

BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The newly-elected leader of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) pledged Tuesday to promote consultative democracy, saying that it embodies the intrinsic requirements of socialist democracy.

"The CPPCC's consultative democracy takes the Constitution, the CPPCC Charter and relevant policies as its foundation, and the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) as its guarantee," said Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the 12th National Committee of CPPCC, the country's top political advisory body.

"It integrates consultation, oversight, participation and cooperation; closely combines people's rights to stay informed about, participate in, express views on, and oversee government affairs; embodies the intrinsic requirements of socialist democracy; and accords with the fundamental interests of the people," 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.

"We need to plan and carry out the CPPCC's consultative democracy in the context of the overall arrangements for building socialist democracy, adhere to the valuable experience the CPPCC has gained in practicing consultative democracy, strengthen research and exploration into the theory and practice of the CPPCC's consultative democracy, and more quickly build and make innovations in the system of consultative democracy," he said.