CPPCC delegates bid farewell with pride
( 2002-03-14 09:51 ) (3 )

Delegates to China's top political advisory body on Wednesday spoke of their high estimation of the organization's work in the past four years as they bid each other an emotional farewell.

Groups of delegates took photos in front of the Great Hall of the People after the fifth and last annual session of the Ninth Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee ended Wesdayday in Beijing.

A new CPPCC National Committee will be elected next year and more than half of the present 2,267 members may fail to be reelected after they finish their five-year term this year.

But most delegates expressed their pride in participating in the administration and in discussions of state affairs in a democratic way.

Delegate Xiao Zhuoji, a well-known economist with Peking University, said the political advisory body provides a stage for him to express his views and suggestions about government work.

All his 10 proposals in the past four years have been discussed, demonstrating the government's great attention paid to opinions from CPPCC members, according to Xiao.

Jiang Kun, a famous cross-talker, said all CPPCC National Committee members can feel free to point out the faults of government policies.

"It has been a consensus among us that a CPPCC member should bear the responsibility of speaking out the people's true views (about government work)," he said.

"On the contrary, the organization should not be taken as an occasion to just sing the praises of the government."

Hong Kong delegate James P.C. Tien, chairman of the Liberal Party, said the political system has acted as an effective channel for Hong Kong people to contribute their experiences to the motherland.

For instance, Hong Kong delegates raised lots of useful proposals for the mainland to meet the challenges from World Trade Organization (WTO) membership and its integration with the world economy.

Delegate Cheng Andong, governor of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, said the CPPCC National Committee members' advice not only helps improve the performance of the central government but also benefits the work of local governments. Most of the proposals were based on solid research work and practical use to correct decision-making of governments at all levels, Cheng said.