CPPCC session especially significant this year given the challenges created by the pandemic

The third annual session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference opens on Thursday, after being delayed for more than two months because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Much is expected of this year's session of China's top political advisers as the country's goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects is expected to be realized by the end of this year, which is also the final year of the country's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20).

The CPPCC National Committee gathers the country's smartest minds from different walks of life in the country. Their ideas have contributed a great deal to what this country has achieved in its endeavors in poverty alleviation, in making progress in all fields for the realization of the goal of building China into a moderately prosperous country in all aspects. And so have their inputs into the fight against the novel coronavirus.

The convening of the session highlights the achievements China has made in fighting the contagion and that its epidemic control measures have taken effect.

And what China has achieved in its fight against the virus once again speaks volumes about the importance of national cohesion under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

The cohesiveness of the Chinese people would be impossible, without the capable leadership of the CPC Central Committee, with General Secretary Xi Jinping as its core, which through constant recalibration of its leadership keeps the country on the right track. This is exactly where the CPPCC National Committee members play their roles as political advisers.

The fact-finding missions and investigations they conduct, and the research they do on specific issues help them come up with ideas to resolve problems and propose solutions to quandaries.

China's successful containment of the spread of the virus has made it possible for it to look ahead. However, the road forward is likely to be bumpy with various challenges needing to be overcome. How will China be able to consolidate what it has achieved in its fight against the virus? How will it win the hardest battle of lifting the last batch of poverty-stricken villagers out of destitution? How can it improve the country's governing capability? How can it foster a more amenable international environment for its further development? The members of the CPPCC National Committee are expected to provide suggestions to answer such questions.

This is why the CPPCC National Committee's annual session is of significance. It enables these political advisers to pool their wisdom so they can make practical suggestions to benefit the nation.

It is hoped that despite the practical difficulties that need to be overcome because of the anti-pandemic requirements, this session will be a success.