TRANSCRIPT: China’s Top Political Advisory Body Holds Press Conference Ahead of Annual Meeting

Please stay tuned. We welcome Chinese and foreign reporters to cover the session by various means, including on-site, via the Internet, through video link and by telephone interviews.

Now I’d like to take questions related to the session and the work of the CPPCC. Thank you.

Q&A Session

[HU HONG LU]: Now the floor is open to questions. Please identify affiliation before asking. It is recommended that each journalist raise only one question. Please begin. Please raise your hands.

[REPORTER, China Media Group]: The year 2024 marked the seventy-fifth anniversary of the CPPCC. General Secretary Xi Jinping attended the celebratory event and delivered an important speech. My question is, what has the CPPCC National Committee done over the past year to act on the guiding principles of that important speech and the decisions of the CPC Central Committee? What results have been achieved? Thank you.

[LIU JIEYI]: Thank you for your question. The year 2024 marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the CPPCC’s founding. General Secretary Xi Jinping attended the meeting marking the anniversary and delivered an important speech, expanding on the CPPCC’s salient Chinese features and remarkable political advantages, which pointed the way forward and provided the fundamental guidance for the CPPCC to advance its high-quality development in the new era.

We in the National Committee studied the spirit of the important speech by General Secretary Xi Jinping and further unified our thought and strength. We gave better play to the CPPCC’s role as a specialized consultative body and advanced the institutional development of consultative democracy in diverse fields and at multiple levels.

Over the past year, we in the National Committee have taken Xi Jinping’s thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for the new era as our guide, focused on advancing the goals and tasks of Chinese modernization, strengthened theoretical and political guidance, actively produced policy advice, built consensus across society and reached greater depth in performing our duties.

First, we ensured the CPC’s overall leadership over the CPPCC. We supervised the implementation of each and every important instruction of General Secretary Xi Jinping on work related to the CPPCC, advanced the reforms laid down at the third plenary session of the twentieth CPC Central Committee on strengthening whole-process people’s democracy and the institutions of consultative democracy, and ensured CPC’s leadership in all aspects and the whole process of the CPPCC’s work.

We took Xi Jinping’s thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for the new era as the overarching guideline for the CPPCC’s work, regularly held reading sessions and study seminars for CPPCC members and ensured that the study comes before survey and survey proceeds consultation, thus enhancing the relevance and effectiveness of our surveys and consultations and keeping our work in the right political direction and properly prioritized.

Second, we stayed laser-focused on the central tasks of the CPC and of the country in performing our duties and making proposals. Surrounding the key and challenging issues in Chinese modernization, in further deepening reform comprehensively, in promoting high-quality development and in maintaining social harmony and stability, we organized forty-two thematic studies on major issues, held eighty-five various political consultation events, handled and replied to over five thousand proposals and submitted over ten thousand briefings.

The special committees leveraged their respective strength and organized committee members to visit rural areas, factories, universities and communities. They worked with central committees of democratic political parties on joint surveys. They worked with the local committees of CPPCC on joint consultations, and they translated the opinions and suggestions from various sectors and the grassroots level into policy options that support the decision making and policy implementation by the CPC and the government, demonstrating the important role of the specialized consultative body in the system of national governance.

Third, we worked to bring people’s mind and efforts together to strengthen unity to the greatest possible extent. In the spirit of great unity and integration, we worked to strengthen unity among ethnic groups, religious groups, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan compatriots and overseas Chinese and promoted harmonious relations between different political parties, ethnic groups, religious groups, social strata and fellow Chinese at home and abroad.

We conducted public diplomacy, people-to-people diplomacy and think tank diplomacy in a coordinated way, promoted friendship, exchange and cooperation with the international community and shared with the world good stories about China and about people’s democracy in China.

We continued ensuring that the CPPCC members serve the people as they perform their duties. Members of thirty-four sectors carried out sci-tech popularization events across the country, cultural events in local communities, employment promotion events in universities involving nearly twenty thousand members to help address the tough issues concerning the people that call for prompt solutions. In short, we strove to be good communicators of the CPC’s policies, good advocates of the people’s interests and good promoters of social harmony.

Fourth, we pursued self-improvement in the spirit of reform and innovation. We further leveraged the foundational role of special committees, held ten meetings to hear their opinions and suggestions, convened a CPPCC National Committee’s meeting on the work of special committees and formulated the guidelines on further leveraging the foundational role of special committees.

We gave better play to the primary role of CPPCC members, formulated and revised seven documents, including on fully leveraging members’ functions and roles, expanded the scope of participating members in surveys and consultations and improved the mechanisms for day-to-day contact, services and administration, record keeping on performance of duty and feedback and communication for CPPCC members so that they have the platform for, feel the warmth in and produce real results from the performance of duties and that new progress is made in building the CPPCC into a home of its members, a home of democracy and a home of unity.

Tomorrow, Chairman Wang Huning will present the work report of the standing committee of the CPPCC National Committee. I welcome you all to follow that event. Thank you.

[REPORTER, Xinhua News Agency]: China’s economy grew by five percent in 2024, meeting the target set for the whole year. But some are of the view that China’s economy recovery is not solid. What is your view on the economy? What has the CPPCC National Committee done to promote sustained economic recovery? Thank you.

[LIU JIEYI]: Thank you for your question. In 2024, the Chinese economy secured steady progress, making solid advances in high-quality development. China’s GDP for the year exceeded 134 trillion yuan with a growth rate of five percent, one of the fastest among the world’s major economies.

New industries and business forms keep emerging. Smart manufacturing and smart products are being upgraded on a monthly or even daily basis. Green productivity is booming, and we are leading the world in wind power, photovoltaic and new energy vehicles.

The last Spring Festival saw strong demand in the consumer market, with home appliances and audio-video equipment selling particularly well, growing at 166.4 percent from last year. And income from tourism grew by 37.5 percent. The Chinese economy is sailing steadily forward along the route of high-quality development.

Meanwhile, we are soberly aware that profound and complex changes are taking place in the domestic and external environments. And the Chinese economy faces some difficulties and challenges. Consumer demand remains insufficient and the risks in some areas still await resolution.

But more importantly, we must see that the Chinese economy enjoys a solid foundation, multiple advantages, strong resilience and great potential. The underlying conditions and basic trend of its long-term growth remain unchanged.

For instance, we have a significant advantage in our system. We have the advantage of a super-large market and the potential of new types of consumption is getting unleashed at a faster pace. We have the advantage of having a complete industrial system and the scale of China’s manufacturing sector has topped the world for fifteen years in a row.

The giant ship of the Chinese economy has always sailed forward by cleaving the waves. As long as we squarely face the challenges and firm up confidence and follow through on the CPC Central Committee’s major decisions and plans, we will take the high-quality development of the Chinese economy to new heights. The economy is always a priority in the work of the CPPCC National Committee.

# CPPCC National Committee’s Contributions to Economic Development

[SPOKESPERSON:] Over the past year, the National Committee offered advice on a series of important economic issues, contributed to the economic recovery and growth and done a great deal of solid effective work. We held meetings on the macroeconomic situation on a quarterly basis to analyze their characters and bottlenecks in each period of economic performance and put forth well-targeted opinions and suggestions on improving macro regulation.

We held deep-going surveys, studies and political consultations on issues related to high-quality development, covering economic system reform, digital trade, marine economy and financial system development among others. This provided opinions and support to the relevant authorities in their formulating and executing policies.

For democratic oversight, we conducted inspections on the ecological conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River Basin, the orderly domestic transfer of industries and the improvement of mechanisms for paired assistance.

And we carried out thematic oversight activities focusing on a better business environment for private companies and a better protection of black soil, contributing to more effective implementation of the relevant decisions and plans.

National Committee members also engaged with local authorities, enterprises and universities to communicate policies, share ideas and build consensus on such issues as regional, economic and trade cooperation and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, which helped strengthen synergy in these domains.

Following the Central Economic Conference, the experts and academics among our members spoke up on mainstream media to help the society get an accurate understanding of the CPC Central Committee’s scientific assessment of the economic situation and its plans of work. The business leaders among our members have not only offered advice on high-quality development, but also done solid work to run their companies well and build up confidence among the general public.

High-quality development is a key priority of the new era. The CPPCC National Committee will continue supporting high-quality development with high-standard functioning of our duties and contribute CPPCC’s strength to a new chapter of Chinese modernization. Thank you.

[REPRESENTATIVE:] Next question, please.

[REPORTER:] With People’s Daily, the concept of new quality productive forces was written into the government work report for the first time in 2024, and the development of it considered one of the ten priorities. Mr. Spokesperson, what achievements has China made over the past year in fostering and delivering such forces? What has the National Committee done in this regard? Thank you.

New Quality Productive Forces and Innovation

[SPOKESPERSON:] Thank you for the question. To develop new quality productive forces is a major strategic decision by the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core based on a profound understanding of the trend of our times and purpose to further advance Chinese modernization.

It is an inherent requirement and important leverage to promote high-quality development. In 2024, China integrated sci-tech innovation and industrial innovation more closely and sped up building a modern industrial system. New quality productive forces yielded remarkable results. The new pointed the direction for the economy and quality ensured its sustained development.

As you must have noted, a series of sci-tech breakthroughs have been achieved and a number of cutting-edge products have stood in the spotlight. Traditional industries have become smarter and greener and smart equipment has been quickly popularized. Among the 189 global lighthouses, 79 are Chinese, nearly half of which come from traditional industries like steel and food.

Emerging industries are booming and future industries are ready to take off. Humanoids took the stage and performed folk dance on the Spring Festival Gala. Drones flew in the night skies and presented cyber fireworks. Large open-source AI models triggered global discussions. The added value from major high-tech manufacturing increased by 8.9 percent and installed industrial robots account for more than half of the global total. New quality productive forces are truly thriving.

To boost new quality productive forces is a key priority in the consultations and proposals of the CPPCC National Committee. We conducted thorough studies on General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important statements on new quality productive forces, organized CPPCC members and leading social science experts and academics to carry out theoretical studies and interpretations and produced multiple study reports, increasing the effectiveness of our action with the deepening of our understanding.

We proposed concrete steps to advance new quality productive forces. We closely watched the world’s frontier and engaged with science institutes and enterprises for thematic surveys on the commercialization of research outcomes, development of regional innovation centers and the R&D of innovative drugs.

We held consultative seminars to discuss the data factor market and AI application at great depth, analyzed the ways and institutional guarantees to promote new quality productive forces and came up with targeted, forward-looking solutions and suggestions, which were given great attention and adopted by the competent authorities.

The renowned accomplished experts among the CPPCC members gave eight science lectures, including on general AI and the frontier and industrialization of nanotechnology to inform the general public of the developments in the sci-tech world and foster a culture of science for boosting new quality productive forces.

New quality productive forces are powerful engines for high-quality development. We in the CPPCC National Committee will continue leveraging our own strength to help unlock stronger impetus from new quality productive forces. Thank you.

[REPRESENTATIVE:] Next question, please.

[REPORTER:] With Daily. The Spring Festival this year was the first one celebrated after it was recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. Products and activities that are distinctly Chinese were popular among the people, which reinforced the festive and culturally rich vibe during the festival. What has the National Committee done last year to promote traditional Chinese culture, and what progress has been made? Thank you.

Promoting Traditional Chinese Culture

[SPOKESPERSON:] Thank you for your question. Indeed, we just enjoyed the first Spring Festival holiday after it was made an intangible cultural heritage. People had an even greater time and spent more than before. Box office revenues and number of moviegoers both set new records. The fusion of traditional culture with high-tech innovations led to a surge in popular hits.

The visa-free transit policy boosted the global popularity of China travel with the number of inbound tourists up by 150 percent year-on-year, a historic high. Experiencing Chinese New Year customs has become a stylish trend. People lived in homestays, wore Hanfu or traditional Chinese clothing, visited temple fairs and enjoyed dumplings, immersing themselves in the endless charm of Chinese culture.

After UNESCO added the Spring Festival to its Intangible Cultural Heritage List, China now boasts 44 UNESCO-listed intangible cultural heritage items, the highest number worldwide, showcasing the immense allure of China’s fine traditional culture.

China’s fine traditional culture embodies the most profound spiritual pursuits of the Chinese nation. It represents its unique spiritual identity and serves as a valuable nourishment for the continuous growth and development of the Chinese nation.

The CPPCC finds its roots in China’s fine traditional culture and has worked actively to promote its creative transformation and innovative development. In doing so, we contribute to building China into a cultural powerhouse by gathering ideas and building consensus.

Last year, CPPCC members went to Shandong, Shanxi, Henan and other places to carry out in-depth research in museums, cultural relics, ancient city districts, research institutes and institutions of high education. They engaged in discussions with frontline cultural and museum workers to gain detailed insights into the progress of major programs such as the project to trace the origins of the Chinese civilization and offered suggestions to breathe new life into China’s traditional culture by adapting it to the new era.

To develop cultural programs and the cultural sector, CPPCC members had in-depth consultations and interactions with leading officials of relevant authorities and reached consensus on promoting systematic protection of cultural heritage and improving the modern cultural industry system. CPPCC members also offered well-informed proposals that were highly regarded and adopted by the relevant authorities.

To guide the whole society in establishing a correct view of the history of the Chinese nation, the CPPCC brought together experts to compile a book entitled “One Hundred Facts on History and Culture of Community for the Chinese Nation.” The book vividly explains the rich meaning of unity in diversity of the Chinese nation and has been recognized as a significant outcome in the study and interpretation of Chinese civilization in China’s historical studies.

The National Committee will continue dedicating itself to promoting China’s fine traditional culture, constantly enhance the spiritual strength of the people and cement the cultural foundation for building China into a stronger country and realizing national rejuvenation. Thank you.

[REPORTER:] Reform and opening up has been important not only for the development of China but also for other countries. But in recent years, economic globalization is facing some challenges, some risks. Interestingly, last year, we learned that the third plenary of the 20th CPC Central Committee stated that reform and opening up is an ongoing endeavor rather than a task to be completed, which is very interesting. With that, I would like to ask what are China’s plans to deepening high-standard opening up? And which are the strategies of China in the future to push for the realization of economic globalization? Thank you very much.

China’s Commitment to Opening Up

[SPOKESPERSON:] Thank you for your question, Sisini. First, a thumbs up for your fluent Chinese. And I think this is a crystallization of China’s reform and opened up endeavor.

Economic globalization is an objective requirement of increased social productivity. It is an inevitable outcome of technological progress, an essential path for the advancement of humanity and an irreversible trend of our times. China firmly stands on the right side of history and its door will only open still wider.

Over the past year, China continued to serve as the largest engine for global economic growth. China moved faster to develop new institutions for a higher standard of an economy. China maintained its position as the world’s largest trader in goods and second largest import market. China made new progress in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

International expos such as the China International Import Expo provided an excellent platform for closer global economic cooperation. We worked hard to promote universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. We advocated the spirit of global solidarity and harmonious coexistence. We actively participated in global economic governance and demonstrated our responsibility for global development as a major country.

We will continue to pursue high-standard opening up, steadily expand institutional opening up. We will deepen the reform of the foreign trade system and the management systems for inward and outward investment. We will improve the layout for regional opening up and refine the mechanism for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. We will carry out broader, wider and deeper opening up.

We will continue to promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative or GDI and make economic globalization more open, inclusive, universally beneficial and balanced.

The National Committee has long been dedicated to serving the country’s opening up endeavors. And from this, we gained a deeper understanding of China’s higher level opening up. Over the past year, the National Committee has taken expanding institutional opening up, improving the layout for regional opening up and advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation as important topics in our extensive consultations and deliberations.

We held a special consultative meeting on pursuing high-standard opening up, a biweekly consultative forum on implementing the strategy to upgrade pilot free trade zones. We conducted inspection tours on the development of core areas under the Belt and Road Initiative and provided the CPPCC’s insights into advancing high-level opening up. And we carried out special oversight programs over the implementation of the major opening up measures laid out in the Fourteenth Five-Year Plan. We gained in-depth understanding of the situation on the ground and put forward targeted suggestions.

CPPCC members put forward many valuable proposals on creating a world-class business environment in free trade zones, improving risk prevention and control systems, leveraging the roles of Hong Kong and Macau in building a higher level of an economy and promoting innovation in service trade and pilot cross-border data flows. For example, suggestions such as systematically easing restrictions on the access of foreign investment in medical institutions and expanding pilot programs for the opening up of value-added telecommunication services have been adopted by relevant authorities and translated into concrete policies and measures.

We will, as always, firmly support and participate in economic globalization. We will unswervingly open up wider and work with the rest of the world to share opportunities, foster prosperity and contribute to building an open world economy. Thank you.

[REPRESENTATIVE:] Next question, please.

[REPORTER:] With the CPPCC paper, the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee adopted the resolution on further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. My question is, what steps has the CPPCC National Committee taken to study and implement the guiding principles of the plenary session? What further steps will be taken going forward? Thank you.

Implementing Reform Principles

[SPOKESPERSON:] Thank you for your question. The resolution adopted at the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee is both a continuation of the comprehensive reform efforts since the third plenary session of the 18th CPC Central Committee in 2013 and a new chapter in advancing Chinese modernization on a new journey. It outlines a panoramic view of further deepening reforms comprehensively in the new era.

The National Committee has made studying and implementing the guiding principles from the third plenary session a major political task and commits to strengthen confidence in reform and build consensus on reform through in-depth learning and thorough understanding, ensuring that our efforts are focused on learning deeply, planning strategically and acting pragmatically.

The National Committee, based on the broader context of further deepening reform comprehensively, further leverages our role as a specialized consultative body. Before the third plenary session, we conducted forward-looking research and consultative deliberations on major issues related to further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization, providing our due support to the CPC Central Committee in formulating the resolution.

After the plenary session, the National Committee focused on the over 300 reform measures across 14 key areas outlined in the resolution and advanced our research surveys, inspections and consultative deliberations. Members of the Chairperson’s Council led cross-committee and cross-sector efforts to carry out special research on deep-seated issues. We conducted thorough analysis and proposed targeted and practicable suggestions.

Advancing Chinese Modernization Through Reform

[SPEAKER CONTINUES:] Through special standing committee meetings, special consultative meetings and biweekly consultative forums, the National Committee made proposals on reform tasks such as bolstering cultural confidence, advancing high-level opening up, securing critical energy and mineral resources, and ensuring high-quality development of the marine economy. Through proposals, news, bulletins, comprehensive reports and other submissions, we effectively contributed to further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization.

The Chinese people often say success is ten percent planning and ninety percent executing. The National Committee has rigorously implemented reform tasks related to our own work. Focusing on improving institutional systems and enhancing the mechanism of consultative democracy, we revised foundational work regulations such as both on reflecting social conditions and public sentiment.

We achieved dual improvement in the quantity and quality of submitted communications. We refined the mechanism for in-depth consultative interactions, stepped up consultations on forward-looking strategic and overarching issues to ensure full and thorough deliberations. We improved the mechanisms for conference speech-making by ensuring the diversity and representation of speakers while enhancing the relevance and professionalism of their contributions.

We came up with new ways of consultation and deliberation by making online deliberation and remote consultation a regular practice. This allows voices from faraway farmlands, factories, and docks to reach the National Committee’s consultative meetings, showing the new vitality of the CPPCC in the digital era.

Going forward, we will continue to offer suggestions and comments on further deeply reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. We will fully execute the reform plans laid out in the resolution for improving the mechanisms for consultative democracy. And we will continue to refine all institutions and mechanisms in practice. Thank you. Next question please.

Promoting People’s Welfare

[REPORTER:] In national governance, it is often said that of all the jobs in front of us, the most important one is to ensure a happy life for the people. For many years, the CPPCC National Committee has been offering recommendations on issues concerning the general public, including on elderly and childcare. What role has the CPPCC National Committee played to help promote people’s welfare? Thank you.

[SPEAKER:] Thank you for your question.

In advancing Chinese modernization, China prioritizes people’s well-being. Issues including the well-being of the elderly and children are not only the concerns of hundreds of millions of families in China but also matters of great significance for high-quality development.

Last year, promoting high-quality population development was a key focus of our consultative efforts. CPPCC members conducted extensive and in-depth research in multiple provinces across the country. They visited neighborhoods, communities and elderly care and childcare facilities and held symposiums to observe people’s living conditions, listen to their voices and gather firsthand information.

Based on this, over one hundred CPPCC members engaged in special consultations on establishing and improving a high-quality population service system covering the entire life cycle. And they proposed practicable opinions and suggestions on increasing market supply of long-term care services, making advanced strategic planning for the silver economy, improving policy systems and collaboratively addressing elderly care and childcare challenges. Their proposals received positive response from relevant authorities. For issues that require continuous attention, they conducted follow-up research, wrote thematic reports and their suggestions were adopted by relevant authorities.

How to ensure access to elderly care, childcare, medical services and social assistance is of concern to the people and also CPPCC members.

In primary and secondary schools, they care for the mental health of adolescents and promote the effective implementation of a “double reduction” policy, namely easing the burden of excessive homework and off-campus tutoring. In urban elderly care facilities, they conduct on-site research and survey and encourage age-friendly renovations and better meal assistance systems for the elderly. A bowl of hot soup is a small yet powerful symbol of their commitment to a more elderly-friendly society.

In border area health centers, they try to work out how to make medical services more directly accessible to local communities. They also leveraged their expertise to help local medical staff with imaging analysis and case analysis.

At the biweekly consultative forum on improving the social security and care service systems for persons with disability, CPPCC members, some suffering disabilities themselves, offered empathetic suggestions on enhancing rehabilitation, education, care and accessibility services for persons with disabilities, contributing to improving their quality of life.

The National Committee will continue to work for the people. We will keep in mind the needs of every household. We will help address their urgent and difficult concerns. By genuinely surveying the people, we aim to make them truly feel that the CPPCC is close to them and that its members are always there for them.

Thank you.

Hong Kong and Macau Integration

[REPORTER:] With TDM from Macau, what has the CPPCC National Committee done to help Hong Kong and Macau better integrate into the overall development of the country and advance the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area? How have members from Hong Kong and Macau contributed their share? Thank you.

[SPEAKER:] Thank you for your question.

In 2024, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of Macau’s return to the motherland. New progress was made in the development of the Guangdong-Macau in-depth cooperation zone in Hengqin. Hong Kong better integrated into the country’s overall development. The high-quality development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area (or GBA) is just another real-world practice of “One Country, Two Systems.”

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge set new records for both passenger and vehicle traffic. The Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link and the Huangmaohai cross-sea passage were completed and opened to traffic, further raising the hard connectivity of the GBA city cluster. Netizens from Hong Kong and Macau shared their amazement at having been able to tour three cities in one day during a GBA road trip.

Also raised was the soft connectivity with a series of facilitating measures for people and businesses being implemented, making the flow of personnel, goods, capital and data easier and more efficient. The point-to-point cross-boundary ambulance service is now available in the GBA. During the Spring Festival, over 2.6 million trips were made by Hong Kong and Macau residents to the mainland.

Last year, Mainland tourists made 34 million trips to Hong Kong and nearly 24.5 million trips to Macau, a year-on-year increase of 27% and 29%, respectively. So this kind of mutual exchange of visits has become a popular trend. With roads connected, cities integrated and hubs linked, the GBA is showcasing new vitality and dynamism in the process of Chinese modernization.

More than 230 CPPCC members from Hong Kong and Macau have played an active role in the country’s economic and social development as well as the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macau. They visited enterprises, associations and universities and colleges in Hong Kong and Macau, went on field trips to mainland provinces and cities and engaged in in-depth discussions on topics such as leveraging the role of Hong Kong and Macau in building a higher standard open economy.

With major national strategies in mind, they deliberated and offered suggestions on finance, trade, technological innovation and the business environment, helping Hong Kong and Macau capitalize on their strengths as connectors between the mainland and global markets, channels for the flow of resources, demonstration zones for rules and bridges for economic and trade exchanges so as to make sustained contributions to the country’s high-quality development.

The National Committee has worked hard to promote the integration of Hong Kong and Macau into the country’s overall development and ensure the steady and long-term success of “One Country, Two Systems.” In the past year, based on the progress report of the outlined development plan of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area and related recommendations, the National Committee continued its democratic oversight for the fourth consecutive year.

Based on the call for Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau to strengthen cooperation and jointly participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, the National Committee made inspection tours and conducted oversight and research on key proposals so as to help the three places advance the harmonization of rules and mechanisms, accelerate the development of a modern industrial system and build a globally competitive business environment.

Based on the objective of promoting collaborative innovation in the GBA to build a high-level international STI center, the National Committee conducted in-depth research and deliberations and offered suggestions to help boost STI cooperation, the flow of innovation resources and the introduction of international talent among the three places.

The National Committee will continue to support the development of the GBA and help Hong Kong and Macau realize better development by embracing greater opportunities created by the country’s overall development. Thank you.

Rural Development and Agriculture

[REPORTER:] With Farmers Daily, since last year, new progress has been achieved in the development of agriculture, rural areas and farmers. Could you share with us what sessions of consultation and deliberation have been convened by the CPPCC National Committee last year in this respect? Thank you.

[SPEAKER:] Thank you for your question.

Agriculture is a foundation of principal importance to a country. For building a modern socialist country comprehensively and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the most important and the heaviest task falls into the rural areas. Yet the widest and most profound foundation also lies in rural areas.

Last year, big achievements have been made in works relating to agriculture, rural areas and farmers. Food production exceeded 0.7 trillion tons for the first time. Poverty alleviation achievements continued to be consolidated and expanded. Thirty-three million new jobs were created for labor force lifted out of poverty.

Agriculture and rural society modernization continues to advance. Industries boosting rural residents’ income are thriving. The rural per capita disposable income grew 6.3% and debt number for counties lifted out of poverty stood at 6.5%. Rural living and business facilitation programs and works to build beautiful countryside were soundly advancing, with living environment and public services improved. Rural revitalization work is enjoying new progress.

The CPPCC National Committee always closely follows the works in agriculture, rural areas and rural people. It works under major themes like building up China’s strengths in agriculture, rural revitalization and common prosperity, pulls wisdom from academicians, experts and grassroots members. It focuses on food production, rural infrastructure construction, public service, living environment improvement and basic rural management system conducted in-depth researches and consultation, thus fulfilling its duties.

Through on-site researches for rural development challenges, CPPCC members raised targeted suggestions. They traveled to eleven provinces and thirty-three cities, raised over six hundred proposals and collected many public opinions.

The National Committee also held biweekly seminars around agriculture development, rural areas building and raising farmers’ income. There are topics like mobilizing the production enthusiasm of farmers and major grain producing regions and integrating urban-rural infrastructure and public service layout. The seminars invited grassroots CPPCC members and leading grain producers to speak, listening to their voices, thus promoting related policy implementation and delivering solid outcomes. Thank you. Next question, please.

Education, Science and Technology Innovation

[REPORTER:] With Hong Kong TKWW Media Group, science and technology is an area that sees strategic contest between countries. The result of innovation competition depends in large part on the performance of talent. Against such a backdrop, what has the CPPCC National Committee done to promote the integrated development of education, technology and talent? What results have been achieved? Thank you.

[SPEAKER:] Thank you for your question.

Science and technology innovation relies on talent and education. China is now home to the largest education system in the world. Science and technology innovation well supported the country’s high-quality development, with China ranking eleventh in the World Innovation Index. The country now enters a new phase to build up its education, science and technology and talent strengths.

We, as the National Committee, focus on integrated progress of education, SciTech innovation and talent cultivation, had consultation and made suggestions around improving SciTech talent structure, building up strategic talent base, deepening higher education reform and strengthening talent cultivation ability.

For improving innovation talent selection and cultivation mechanism and aligning SciTech with industry development, the National Committee visited universities, enterprises, human resources agencies, and research institutes for researches and consultation and pooled wisdom. It also raised suggestions targeting modern vocational education system.

The National Committee also worked on education equality with a demonstration program covering hundreds of schools. It encourages schools to pair up with primary and middle schools at border region, share digital resources, help improving teaching equipment and teaching quality and promote high-quality education in ethnic minority regions and remote areas.

Among all the CPPCC members, more than 130 of them are academicians and many other members are leading figures in education, research and business startups. They all actively pushed for education reform, talent cultivation and sci-tech innovation in their own fields. For example, professors and university workers innovate in teaching methods, refine curriculums. Leading researchers also attach importance to nurturing different levels of talents while pursuing technological breakthroughs. Entrepreneurs invest more in research and talents cultivation, forming synergy among industries and universities.

CPPCC members stepped up efforts in Sci-Tech popularization, especially among the younger generation, thus forming an atmosphere of valuing education and science and respecting talents. Thank you. Next question, please.

International Communication

[REPORTER:] Thank you for the opportunity. I’m from Egypt, and I work for Panadokas Incorporate Corporation. Last year, I attended the event to business CPPCC. That renewed my understanding to CPPCC. Mister Spokesperson, can you share with us more about the international communication events CPPCC held? Thank you.

[SPEAKER:] Thank you for your question.

Last year, the CPPCC National Committee had various international communication events. “Visit to the CPPCC” is the signature event for inviting international friends to visit and have exchanges. I’m glad that you find it rewarding and you are always welcome to return.

As the Chinese saying goes, “when the great way is practiced, the world belongs to all.” General Secretary Xi Jinping put forth the important vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

CPPCC’s International Engagement

[SPOKESPERSON:] It is China’s answer to the question of the time of what kind of world to build and how to build it. This injected great impetus to the course of world peace and development and it is gaining more international support and appeal. The CPPCC National Committee deeply practices Xi Jinping’s thought on diplomacy, actively conducted people-to-people think tank and public diplomacy.

Last year, it held seven visits to the CPPCC, inviting friends from more than one hundred countries, including diplomats, sinology scholars, business figures from international business council and cross-border companies, and young representatives from the global south, etc. They had wide-range exchanges of views on Chinese modernization, Chinese governance, high-standard opening up, high-quality BRI cooperation and international trade and economic cooperation as well as international and regional issues.

They tapped deep into the seventy-five years of CPPCC and the development of China’s democracy, developed deep understanding towards the unique strengths of China’s whole-process people’s democracy. Some participants expressed their view that democracy should take roots in a country’s traditional culture, history and development path. China’s experience in consultative democracy is worth learning. Some also said China always delivers on its worth. They have faith in China’s market.

“Investing in China is investing in the future,” we also held the China Economic and Social Forum 2024 roundtable discussion of China-African ACOSOC and China-Europe roundtable discussion. These activities attracted more than one hundred representatives from more than forty countries. They had in-depth discussions on topics like promoting an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization and the global modernization of peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation and brings prosperity to all.

CPPCC members of related sectors visited Asian, African and Latin American countries as well as Europe and the U.S. and engaged with scholars, business figures, friendly individuals and overseas Chinese on topics like overseas investment cooperation, green and low-carbon agriculture, international medical industry cooperation and China’s relation with the world, etc. Various events have given us the opportunities to get to know many international friends and boost mutual understanding. Thus combining strengths of the world to face challenges and create the future together and drawing hands in building a community with a shared future for mankind. In the interest of time, this will be the last question.

Please raise your hand.

Environmental Protection and Building a Beautiful China

[REPORTER:] With China Daily, over the past year, green and low-carbon development has been further deepened. Improvements in the environment have been felt by residents both in urban and rural areas. My question is, what has the CPPCC National Committee done to help build a beautiful China? What achievements have been made?

[SPOKESPERSON:] Thank you for your question. In recent years, everyone can feel that the sky is more blue, the water is cleaner, the air is clearer, the environment is getting better. Last year, days of good air quality accounted for 87.2 percent. Surface water with good quality around the country 90.4 percent.

Forest coverage exceeded 25 percent, with planted forest area heading the world, making China the first in afforestation. The National Committee highly values environmental protection. The Fourteenth National Committee set a new sector of environment and resources, gathered members, scholars and entrepreneurs from fields including ecology, environment and resources.

The members keep in mind the instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping when he visited members from RCCK, the science sector, the environment and resources sector during the two sessions in 2024. They carried out in-depth consultation and democratic oversight around the overarching forward-looking matters that are of strategic importance to building a beautiful China and the things people care about and achieved good results.

Focusing on the fundamental solution of green and low-carbon high-quality development, the National Committee promoted green ways of production and life, deepened industry’s consensus on green transition and helped with that trend. It raised suggestions on regulating industry growth after tracking and studying the new energy industry and renewable resources recycling.

The National Committee also focused on people’s living environment by targeting environmental problems around their homes and lands, for example, focusing on rural area wastewater treatment. For better air quality and the blue sky, the National Committee had on-site visits and gave targeted suggestions. It also carried out programs for improving the air quality of major places.

It also carried out long-term and in-depth research and made suggestions on major ecology projects on desertification prevention like Sun Bay Shelterbelt Forest and programs like ecological protection along the Yangtze and Yellow River Basin, biodiversity protection in Sanshanjiangyuan and grassland ecological restoration.

Through various ways like major issue briefings, analysis meetings on demographic and environmental development situation, book clubs and seminars, the National Committee widely promoted major policies on ecological protection, pulled public consensus and gathered efforts to draw an ecological protection blueprint covering urban and rural areas and mountain and sea. In pushing for the harmony between man and nature and the course of building and sharing a beautiful China, the CPPCC National Committee will continue to contribute its wisdom and strengths. Thank you.

[UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER:] Thank you, Mr. Spokesperson, and gratitude to all the media friends. Let’s call it a day. Goodbye.

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