The People's Daily publishes an editorial Sunday, calling the Third Session of the Ninth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) a meeting featuring democracy, truth-seeking, unity and confidence boosting.

The session upheld the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory and implemented the spirit of the 15th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Fourth Plenary Session of the 15 th CPC Central Committee as well as principles expounded by Jiang Zemin in a speech he made marking the 50th founding anniversary of the CPPCC, according to the editorial.

Adhering to the two top themes of unity and democracy, the CPPCC session performed its functions of political consultation, democratic supervision and participation in the running of state affairs, with focus placed on matters of vital importance to the state and economic work, the editorial says.

During the session, the CPPCC National Committee members examined a report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee and other import work reports of the top advisory body, and discussed the government work report delivered by Premier Zhu Rongji at the current session of the National People's Congress.

The editorial says the CPPCC National Committee members, with a high sense of political responsibility, held discussions and put forward lots of constructive opinions and proposals on major issues including the rule of law; rejuvenating the nation through science, technology and education; sustainable development; developing the western region in a big way; state enterprise reform, the poverty-eradication campaign, social security, democratic supervision, the anti-corruption drive, and the maintenance of social stability.

The CPPCC National Committee members showed their great concern on the Taiwan issue, urging the Taiwan authorities to obey the will of the people and the law of history, by returning to the principle of "one China", the editorial says.

The People's Daily speaks highly of CPPCC National Committee members for their stronger sense of, and their greater ability to participate in, the running of state affairs.

In the new historic period and under new historic conditions featuring fundamental changes in the relations of different classes and major social contradictions, the united front is still an important part of the general line and policy of the CPC and a magic weapon for overcoming difficulties and achieving victories, the paper says.

The CPPCC, as the most extensive patriotic united front organization, shoulders a glorious historic mission in realizing socialist modernization, safeguarding unity of the motherland, and promoting a grand solidarity among people of different ethnic groups, the editorial says.