Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), presides over the closing meeting of the Second Session of 11th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

The Second Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) concluded here Thursday morning, pledging efforts to help maintain steady and relatively fast economic development in 2009.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee who presided over the closing meeting, described the annual session as a success in boosting confidence and strengthening unity for China's development.

"This year is crucial for us to brave grave challenges both at home and abroad and achieve new progress," Jia said.

He urged the political advisors to shoulder their responsibilities, keep in mind the people's well-being, and contribute to the national effort to maintain steady and relatively fast economic development.

The meeting adopted the work report of the 11th CPPCC National Committee's Standing Committee over the past year, and a report on how suggestions and proposals from CPPCC members were handled since the last session.

A total of 1,987 members of the 11th CPPCC National Committee had submitted 5,571 proposals on economic development, government building, democracy and the legal system, among others, by 2 p.m. on March 8.

The closing meeting of the Second Session of 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2009. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

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According to the report on the handling of proposals, political advisors attached great importance to issues related to people's well-being.

They raised 551 proposals on maintaining economic growth, calling for effort to boost economic restructuring and expand domestic demand under the backdrop of the global financial crisis.

Their proposals also include 603 on farmers and agricultural and rural development, 632 on employment, 301 on social security, 657 on education, 426 on medical services and health care, 146 on food safety, and 294 on promoting democracy and the rule of law, says the report.

The Committee for Handling Proposals of the CPPCC National Committee called two special meetings during the 10-day annual session, focusing on employment of returned migrant workers and stimulation of domestic demand for steady and relatively rapid economic growth.

Major officials from key government departments such as the National Development and Reform Commission joined in discussions about how to handle the proposals at the two meetings.

According to the report, the CPPCC National Committee will hold a meeting on March 24, when the proposals will be transferred to 168 government departments and units for further handling.

A political resolution also adopted at the closing meeting hailed China's achievements over the past year, saying that the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee had led people of all ethnic groups in advancing socialist economic, political, cultural and social development and ecosystem preservation despite major challenges rarely seen in history.

The closing meeting of the Second Session of 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 12, 2009. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

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"Maintaining steady and relatively fast economic development was the principal task in this year's economic work in China," says the resolution, calling on CPPCC members to perform their duty earnestly to help mitigate the impact of the global financial crisis on the country.

It urged political advisors to continue researches on macroeconomic regulation, agriculture, expanding domestic demand, industrial restructuring, export, education and social security, in order to provide important references for the CPC and government in the policy making process.

The resolution also urged political advisors to give priority to social harmony. The members from the ethnic minority and religious circles in particular were required to work hard to promote unity among all ethnic groups and harmony among people with different religious belief.

Hailing the major breakthroughs made in the relations across the Taiwan Straits over the past year, the resolution called for more efforts to help expand economic cooperation and personnel and cultural exchanges across the Straits for new progress in peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

"We also support CPPCC members from Hong Kong and Macao to work actively in the local social and political affairs and encourage them to contribute to the country's development and social stability," says the resolution.

The year of 2009 marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of New China and the establishment of the CPPCC, and CPPCC members should uphold the unique role of the political organization and continue to improve the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC, it said.

The CPPCC is a patriotic united front organization of the Chinese people, serving as a key mechanism for multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and a major manifestation of socialist democracy.

Members of the CPPCC are representatives of the CPC and non-Communist parties, personages without party affiliation, and representatives of people's organizations, ethnic minorities and various social strata.

The CPPCC also has the representation of compatriots of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, returned overseas Chinese, and specially invited people.

Top CPC and state leaders Hu Jintao, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang were present at the closing ceremony.

The CPPCC annual session ran parallel to an annual session of China's to legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC). The CPPCC National Committee members listened to the work reports of the government along with deputies to the NPC.

(Xinhua News Agency March 12, 2009)