Advancing Hand in Hand, Re-creating Great Cause: EditorialIn the first spring of the new century, the Fourth Session of the Ninth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), having completed the various preset items on the agenda, was successfully concluded in Beijing March 12 amidst an enthusiastic atmosphere featuring democracy, realism, unity and vigor, for this we extend our warm congratulations!Holding high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory, the meeting conscientiously implemented the spirit of the 15th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Fifth Plenary Session of the 15th CPC Central Committee and of the speech made by Comrade Jiang Zemin at the meeting marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the CPPCC and the National United Front Work Conference. Grasping firmly the two major themes of unity and democracy, centered closely around the formulation and implementation of the 10th Five-year Plan, and dealing specifically with the fields of work, such as economic construction, the construction of democracy and legal system, education, science, technology and culture, environmental protection, social stability, nationality, religion, reunification of the motherland, united front and political consultation, CPPCC members to the meeting participated in the administration and discussion of State affairs, they aired their views freely, contributed their ideas and suggestions, put forward many motions, opinions and proposals which, embodying their energy and wisdom, will play an important role in promoting China's economic development and all-round social progress, this represents the new contributions made by the CPPCC members to the modernization drive of the motherland. During the session, all CPPCC members heard and discussed the work report of the CPPCC Standing Committee and the report on the situation regarding the motion work done since the Third Session; they attended as nonvoting delegates to the Fourth Session of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC)£¬heard and discussed the Report on the Outline of the 10th Five-year Plan for National Economic and Social Development made by Premier Zhu Rongji and other important reports; they deliberated and passed the various resolutions of the Fourth Session of the Ninth CPPCC National Committee and the report on the situation regarding the examination of proposals; some additional members and standing committee members were elected at the session. Members highly evaluated and enthusiastically praised the Outline (Draft) of the 10th Five-year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and Premier Zhu's report, firmly affirmed the work done by the CPPCC Standing Committee and the situation regarding the handling of motions over the past year. They were filled with confidence in fulfilling the three major tasks for the new century and advanced many constructive suggestions, exhibiting an ever-stronger sense and ever-greater abilities for participation in the administration and discussion of State affairs. The National United Front Work Conference held by the CPC Central Committee not long ago is of important guidance significance for doing a good job of the people's political consultative work in the new development stage of the socialist modernization drive. The CPPCC should, in the light of the practice of work, strive to properly implement the spirit of the session. It should continue to give play to the superiority of the galaxy of talent and concentration of intelligence. Centered around the national economic and social development during the 10th Five-year Plan period, it should select questions for studies, conduct thorough investigation and study, present full argumentation and advance valuable and weighty opinions and suggestions; it should advocate and encourage various democratic parties, various ethnic groups and people in various social circles to speak frankly and bluntly, give further play to the CPPCC's role of democratic supervision; it should assist the Party and government in doing a good job of enhancing people's unity and maintaining social stability, give timely and accurate reflection of social conditions and popular will, actively publicize and explain Party and government principles and policies, do more work of harmonizing relationship, defusing contradictions, adjusting emotion and assuring the public, earnestly enhancing people's unity and actively safeguarding social stability. The system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation led by the CPC is a basic political system of China. Giving full play to the CPPCC's role of political consultation, democratic supervision and participation in the administration and discussion of State affairs is of vital importance for pushing forward the standardization and institutionalization of the CPPCC's performance of its functions, developing socialist democratic politics, making policy-making more scientific and democratic and maintaining close ties between our Party and the masses in various social circles. The Communist Party of China, a political party in power, shoulders the important responsibility of leading the country forward, Party committees and leading cadres at various levels should actively listen to the opinions collected from various quarters by the CPPCC, so as to help constantly improve work. At the same time, they should further strengthen and improve leadership over the work of the CPPCC, pay more attention to, show deeper concern for and give greater support to the work of the CPPCC, thereby creating favorable conditions for the CPPCC to perform its functions and give play to its role and thus push the cause of the CPPCC constantly forward. Our great cause has pushed open the door of the new century, groups of virtuous people and crowds of heroes vie with one another to speak about new things. In the face of the new century, new situations and new tasks, the CPPCC will, together with people of the whole country, rally closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin at the core and forge ahead with the dawn of the new century, thereby making still greater contributions to realizing the blueprint of the 10th Five-year Plan and greet the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation! People's Daily publishes this editorial March 13 on its first page to congratulate the successful conclusion of the Fourth Session of the Ninth CPPCC National Committee. |
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