This 12th session that began on March 3 is deliberating on the country’s 13th five-year development plan.
The fourth session of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) began at the Great Hall of the People in the capital, Beijing on March 3, 2016 to round off on March 14. Deliberations are on the country’s socio-economic development plan for the next five years. The 13th Five-year Development Plan, as the 2016-2020 development blueprint in known here in China, seeks to maintain a medium-high growth with focus on innovation, better coordination, green development, opening up and sharing to fulfill the country’s inclusive development objectives. Attendees say hope is that the new plan will meet the aspirations of President Xi Jinping who believes that by injecting fresh vitality and bringing more opportunities for common development with other countries, China’s development will be involved in the trend of world development.
Addressing the over 2,000 CPPCC delegates and thousand of observers who thronged the Great Hall of the People in Beijing during the opener, the Chairperson, Yu Zhengsheng said 2016 marks the first year in the decisive stage of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and a crucial year in moving ahead with structural reforms. He pledged that the consultative group will, “take a problem-oriented approach, increase the effectiveness of political consultations and political oversight so that we may make a positive contribution to the good start in the implementation of the 13th Five-year Development Plan.”
Africa that has for decades now increased win-win cooperation with China is also hoping to tap much from the session when deliberations end on March 14. After the second forum of China-Africa summit that held for the first time on African soil last December 2015 in South Africa, with far-reaching conclusions and plans on boosting the already cordial ties, the Peoples’ Representatives would need, during the ongoing session, to examine and hopefully endorse government’s plans for deepening Sino-African relations. This will be after Chinese Premier; Li Keqiang, this weekend presents a report on the work of government.
Prior to the official opening ceremony Thursday afternoon, CPPCC spokesperson, Wang Guoqing told the media in a press conference on the eve that “the session’s priority is to contribute ideas and suggestions on the formulation and implementation of the 13th Five-year Development Plan.” Three of the 14 panel discussions, he added, will focus on the draft outline of the 13th five-year plan. Promoting green development and environmental protection and boosting confidence in economic development are some of the issues under discussions.
The CPPCC is an organization of the united front with a wide representation. It is an important committee of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC. It is made up of the CPC, other political parties, mass organisations and representative of public personages from all walks of life, among others. All have a common goal of joining hands with the country’s communist party to make life better for citizens and continually improve the country’s image abroad through mutually-beneficial ties. This with the driving force that, “when you walk alone you walk faster but in a group you walk further.”
