A grand meeting celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China’s top political advisory body, was held in Beijing on September 20. President Xi Jinping, also the general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, addressed the gathering, highlighting the CPPCC as an innovative political system that brings together political parties, prominent individuals without party affiliation, people’s organizations, and people from all walks of life and all ethnic groups under the leadership of the CPC.
Since its inception in 1949, the CPPCC has been instrumental in every stage of China’s development, from the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the socialist revolution, construction, and reform periods. Under the CPC’s leadership, it has steadfastly upheld the principles of unity and democracy, fostering collaboration among various sectors of society.
The first plenary session of the CPPCC in September 1949 marked a significant moment in China’s history. Convened in Beijing against the backdrop of national independence and liberation, it formalized a patriotic united front and established a system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the CPC’s leadership. In the early years of the PRC, the CPPCC supported key government initiatives such as land reforms, playing a crucial role in restoring and developing the national economy, consolidating the newly established people’s government, and laying the foundation for socialist institutions.
Following the first National People’s Congress in 1954, the CPPCC continued to contribute significantly to China’s political and social spheres. It was vital in completing socialist transformation, harnessing diverse social forces to achieve national objectives, fostering political engagement, managing internal dynamics within the united front, and expanding China’s international exchanges.
In the wake of the third plenary session of the 11th CPC Central Committee in 1978, the CPPCC worked diligently to mobilize positive factors and unite all forces, contributing to a stable and harmonious political environment. It promoted the principle of “one country, two systems,” advancing peaceful reunification and fostering diplomatic engagement.
Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, the Party Central Committee has placed significant emphasis on the development of the CPPCC, strengthening the CPC’s leadership across ideological, political, organizational, operational, and institutional lines. Beginning in 2014, the CPC Central Committee started annually reviewing reports by the CPPCC and its leadership bodies, establishing a key institutional arrangement for upholding and enhancing the CPC’s comprehensive leadership.
In 2018, the principle that “the leadership of the CPC is the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics” was enshrined in the Constitution of the PRC. That same year, the CPPCC held its first Party-building symposiums, outlining major tasks required to strengthen the Party’s role within the organization. In October 2018, the CPC Central Committee issued a directive to enhance Party-building efforts in the CPPCC, and in 2019, a landmark Central Conference on CPPCC Work took place\u2014the first of its kind in CPC history.
As the CPPCC celebrates its 75th anniversary, it continues to play a critical role in uniting various sectors of society under the CPC’s leadership, fostering unity and democracy, and contributing to China’s ongoing development and global engagement.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
