Session asked to focus suggestions, deliberation on implementation

National political advisers have been urged to build consensus and pool wisdom for the country to achieve a good start for the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).

The fourth session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, opened on Wednesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, raising the curtain on this year's two sessions of China's top legislative and political advisory bodies.

President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other leaders attended the opening meeting, joining around 2,100 CPPCC National Committee members from across the country and various sectors.

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Wang Huning, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, delivered a work report on behalf of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, saying that 2025 was a pivotal year for China's path to modernization.

Amid complex global and domestic challenges, China concluded the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) successfully, with strength in the economy, technology and defense reaching new heights, he said.

Over the past year, the CPPCC National Committee contributed to the country's development by organizing 98 consultative and deliberative activities. It received 5,992 proposals from members, of which 5,061 were accepted for processing and the response rate for the accepted proposals reached 99.9 percent, providing reference for the government, according to the report.

Wang called for suggestions and deliberation during the session to be centered on the implementation of the new five-year plan.

"We should focus on key issues in fields including economic development, scientific and technological innovation, reform and opening-up, social construction and people's livelihoods, and reflect social conditions and public opinion in a practical manner," he said.

Wang said the CPPCC National Committee will implement a democratic supervision work plan for the 15th Five-Year Plan period to help promote the implementation of major decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee.

The CPPCC National Committee will also hold activities to commemorate the 160th anniversary of the birth of Sun Yat-sen, a revered national hero and pioneer of the country's democratic revolution. It will strengthen foreign exchanges and better tell the stories of China's democracy, he added.

Jiang Ying, CPPCC National Committee member and chairwoman of Deloitte China, said that as the nation gets ready to start the 15th Five-Year Plan, its push for high-level opening-up and win-win cooperation shows it is committed to high-quality growth through openness.

"This is good news for global businesses — giving them more confidence and new opportunities," Jiang said, adding that China's continuous progress in areas like the digital economy and green transformation is attracting more multinational enterprises to base their research and development in China.

She said that managing cross-border data flows has become a key issue in high-level opening-up and her proposal this year highlights the problems enterprises face in cross-border data flows, aiming at making it easier and more convenient for enterprises to comply with regulations.

Li Shufu, a CPPCC National Committee member and chairman of Geely Holding Group, identified the "new trio" — electric vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaics — as pivotal trends for social progress.

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While noting that the auto industry is shifting from "involution-style" competition toward sustainable growth through technology and quality, Li said that Geely is working to convert unstable wind and solar energy into stable liquid fuels for storage and transportation.

Clarence Ling Chun-kit, a CPPCC National Committee member from Hong Kong, said that given current cross-Strait tensions, frequent communication is more important than ever and he will focus more this year on youth exchanges.

Noting that cross-Strait integration in scientific areas like artificial intelligence and computing during the 15th Five-year Plan period is essential, Ling said Hong Kong serves as a "natural bridge" to help Taiwan compatriots understand the "real situation on the Chinese mainland" through shared cultural and trade ties.

Contact the writers at zhangyi@chinadaily.com.cn