CPPCC's new leader rejects Western political systems, champions consultative democracy

BEIJING, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The newly-elected leader of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) pledged Tuesday that China will promote consultative democracy and 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 National Committee of the CPPCC, 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.

Yu said that thoroughly implementing and studying the guiding principles of the 18th CPC National Congress held in November is the foremost political task of the CPPCC at present and for some time to come.

"The most important and core issues while implementing and studying these guiding principles are upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics, strengthening confidence, being more conscientious, and achieving self-improvement," he said.

Yu also called on the political advisors to constantly deepen their understanding of the path, system of theories and system of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

"We must doggedly focus on the central task of economic development and serving the overall interests of the country, consciously plan and make arrangements for the work of the CPPCC in the context of the overall work of the Party and country, focus on carrying out investigations, studies, inspections and consultations on major state affairs with a bearing on the overall situation," he said.

He said the CPPCC will make more efforts to "adopt pragmatic measures and achieve practical results, advance development in a scientific way, promote social harmony, ensure all the CPPCC's efforts to fulfill its duties are compatible with the central task of economic development, conform to policy-making requirements more fully, and better reflect the people's wishes."