| The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the
country's most important adviser to the development of economic and social policy, will
convene today for its annual meeting, China Daily reports. "In
formulating the 10th Five-Year Plan (2001-05), the drafting committee has often consulted
the opinions of the CPPCC members," Qi Huaiyuan, spokesman of the Fourth Session of
the Ninth CPPCC National Committee, said at a press briefing yesterday.
After studying and discussing the draft 10th Five-Year Plan, CPPCC members have
submitted 136 proposals, 58 of which have been adopted by the drafting committee, he said.
The annual session of the CPPCC National Committee is due to open this afternoon
and will conclude on March 12. So far, more than 1,400 CPPCC members from 34 regions have
registered to attend the meeting. Members will be divided into 48 groups for panel
discussions once the session has started.
According to Qi, CPPCC members are currently focusing primarily on economic
issues.
Up to February 28, the CPPCC National Committee had received 127 proposals for
this session, 60 of which concern China's economic development, accounting for 47.2% of
the total.
"Development of central and western China, rural work and agriculture,
supervision of the financial order, and growth of the non-State economy and the high-tech
industry are among the topics of greatest concern to the CPPCC," Qi explained.
Another topic that will capture special attention from members at this year's
meeting is a proposal for diverting water from the Yangtze River Valley in southern China
to solve water shortage problems in the North.
"CPPCC experts have been studying the issue since last October. After
on-the-spot investigations, they formulated and submitted a report on the project,"
Qi said.
Commenting on the CPPCC's work in the previous year, Qi said the National
Committee organized 14 inspection teams to conduct investigations into problems and issues
around the country. After touring dozens of provinces, municipalities and autonomous
regions, they produced reports on some of the more pressing and sensitive aspects of
China's economic and social development.
When asked about the Taiwan question, Qi said it was the CPPCC's position that the
Taiwan authorities should be responsible for the current cross-Straits situation. "We
have made consistent efforts to achieve peaceful reunification in the past year."
Taiwan authorities have yet to accept the one-China principle and Taiwan's refusal
to do so is the root of the tension across the Straits, he said.
Qi said last year's election of the latest Taiwan leader cannot change the fact
that the island is an inseparable part of China and that most of the Taiwanese people are
opposed to attempts to split the motherland.
As for the Falun Gong cult, Qi reaffirmed the CPPCC's stance against the cult,
which it considers to be anti-human, anti-science and anti-society.
The CPPCC firmly supports the decision of the National People's Congress to
eradicate the cult, he said.
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