The members selected to the 12th National Committee of China's top political advisory body are more highly educated and more diverse than before. They include more women and more young people, along with others from all walks of life.

The 12th CPPCC National Committee contains altogether 2,237 members, same as the previous committee selected five years ago. However, over a thousand members have been selected for the first time, newcomers accounting for 48 percent of the committee's total membership.

The average age of the members is 56 years old. About 60 percent of the members are non-Communists, or members from other political parties and persons without party affiliations.

There are 399 female members, 4 more than in the previous committee. 258 representatives are from ethnic minority groups, accounting for 12 percent of all members. About 95 percent of the members are graduates of junior college, or have received even higher education. That is 2.5 percent higher than the previous committee.

(CNTV.cn March 3, 2013)