The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held a press conference on Friday, one day ahead of the top political advisory body's annual session.
Guo Weimin, spokesperson for the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, briefed the press on the session.
The Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China. (Photo/Xinhua)
Peace, development common will across Taiwan Strait: spokesperson
Beijing - Peace, development, exchanges and cooperation are the common aspirations of people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait, a spokesperson said Friday.
Guo Weimin, spokesperson for the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks at a press conference one day ahead of the top political advisory body's annual session.
Guo said that the CPPCC National Committee will, under the backdrop that the mainland has entered a new phase of COVID response, continue advancing exchanges with personnel from various sectors of Taiwan to jointly promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and the integrated development of both sides of the Strait.
He stressed adhering to the policies of peaceful reunification and "one country, two systems," upholding the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, and resolutely opposing "Taiwan independence" and foreign interference.
Guo Weimin (2nd R, rear), spokesperson for the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2023. The CPPCC National Committee held a press conference on Friday, one day ahead of the top political advisory body's annual session. (Photo/Chen Yehua, Xinhua)
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Production, social life speed up returning to normal in China: spokesperson
Beijing - China has pulled through the current round of COVID-19 outbreak with production and social life accelerating the pace of returning to normal, a spokesperson said Friday.
The country has achieved a major and decisive victory in COVID-19 prevention and control, said Guo Weimin, spokesperson for the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), at a press conference.
The country will well implement the decisions and plans made by the Communist Party of China Central Committee on the COVID-19 prevention and control in the new phase, he said.
The 14th CPPCC National Committee will actively put forward proposals on issues such as how to coordinate epidemic response with economic and social development, address weaknesses in medical services, prevent major public health emergencies and promote high-quality development, Guo said.
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Belt and Road Initiative promotes economic growth, improves people's lives: spokesperson
Beijing - The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has facilitated economic growth and improved people's livelihood along the routes, a spokesperson said Friday.
BRI construction has also brought effective investment and more quality assets to participant countries, said Guo Weimin, spokesperson for the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, at a press conference.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the BRI. By mid-February this year, China had signed cooperation agreements with 151 countries and 32 international organizations, and its annual trade value with countries along the Belt and Road almost doubled from 2013 to 2022, according to Guo.
Responding to claims about China creating "debt traps," Guo said such "noises" are baseless.
China attaches great importance to the prevention of debt risks in pushing ahead with the BRI, and promotes a long-term, stable and sustainable investment and financing framework that keeps risks under control, he said.
China will take the BRI's 10th anniversary as an opportunity to make greater progress in BRI construction and to further provide new energy and space for global economic cooperation, said Guo.
Guo Weimin, spokesperson for the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2023. The CPPCC National Committee held a press conference on Friday, one day ahead of the top political advisory body's annual session. (Photo/Jin Liangkuai, Xinhua)
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China needs to consolidate foundation of digital economy development: spokesperson
Beijing - China needs to consolidate the foundation of the development of digital economy and boost the integration of digital economy and manufacturing, a spokesperson for the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) said Friday.
Digital economy plays an increasingly crucial role in national economic development and people's daily lives, spokesperson Guo Weimin said when answering questions at a press conference.
China's national political advisors attach great importance to the digital economy. Based on in-depth investigations, the CPPCC held a consultation last year on the sustainable and sound development of digital economy, Guo noted.
China needs to address weaknesses in key areas, consolidate the foundation for digital economy's development, make full use of data resources, boost the integration of digital economy and manufacturing, and enhance supervision and digital security, said the spokesperson.
Many political advisors have made efforts in the research and application of digital economy and in facilitating high-quality development with digital technologies, Guo added.
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China's continued economic recovery to help stabilize employment: spokesperson
Beijing - China's continued economic recovery will provide solid support for stabilizing employment, a spokesperson said Friday.
With the optimization and adjustment of epidemic prevention policies and further implementation of various measures to stabilize the economy, the Chinese economy will continue to recover and provide solid support in stabilizing employment, said Guo Weimin, spokesperson for the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
CPPCC National Committee members have put forward many good suggestions on how to promote employment, Guo said when answering questions at a press conference.
Some CPPCC National Committee members believe that only when enterprises are stable can employment be stable, and only when enterprises grow can employment grow. Therefore, it is necessary to sustain and develop existing enterprises.
Some other members pointed out that it is necessary to speed up the development of new industries, and increase supportive and preferential efforts in such areas as finance, taxation and social security for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in order to maintain and create more jobs, Guo said.
Some believe that the protection of the rights and interests of employees in industries including express delivery, take-away service and online ride-hailing should be strengthened, and the development of new employment forms should be actively promoted and guided, according to Guo.
Stabilizing employment still faces many difficulties and challenges, according to Guo, given that it is estimated that there are more than 11.5 million college graduates this year. At the same time, there is a gap between workers' skills qualification and job requirements, and structural contradictions are prominent.
Some CPPCC National Committee members suggest that it is necessary to innovate working ideas and methods for the employment of college graduates and introduce practical and effective measures to help them, which requires the joint efforts of the government, enterprises and relevant institutions as well as individuals.
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China's private economy to embrace new development opportunities: spokesperson
Beijing - China's private economy will embrace new opportunities for development and the stage for private enterprises will be broader as the country's economy is expected to pick up on the whole in 2023, Guo Weimin, a spokesperson for the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said Friday.
Guo Weimin (2nd R), spokesperson for the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2023. The CPPCC National Committee held a press conference on Friday, one day ahead of the top political advisory body's annual session. (Photo/Chen Yehua, Xinhua)
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China to provide world with new opportunities through continued opening up: spokesperson
Beijing - China will take concrete measures to promote opening up and continue to provide new opportunities and drivers for global development, Guo Weimin, a spokesperson for the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said Friday.
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China's economy remains resilient with potential, vigor: spokesperson
Beijing - China's national political advisors believe that the country's economy remains resilient and is full of potential and vigor, a spokesperson for the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) said Friday.
China has solid strength in market size, industrial system and human resources despite a complex and severe environment for development, Guo Weimin said when answering questions at a press conference.
While cautioning of headwinds including continuous turmoil in the international political and economic landscape, spillover from policy adjustments in other major economies and a domestic economic recovery yet to be consolidated, Guo urged firm confidence in doing a good job in the economic work in 2023.
"We should make it a top priority to stabilize growth and seek to effectively upgrade and appropriately expand the economy," he said.
China's economy expanded 3 percent last year, overcoming the impact of factors beyond expectations such as a complicated global environment, COVID-19 and natural disasters.
It was a hard-won achievement for the country to maintain overall economic stability and withstand pressure to elevate the economy to a new stage, the spokesperson said.
"The national political advisors have suggested taking concrete reform moves to improve expectations and boost confidence," he told reporters.
Citing advice from the CPPCC National Committee members, Guo said the country should continue to implement a strategy to expand domestic demand to accelerate recovery and spur consumption.
Efforts should be made to promote stable and healthy development of the property sector and advance the industry's transformation to a new development model, he noted.
He also suggested stronger policy guidance to facilitate digital transformation of traditional industries and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as deepened reforms to allow financial institutions to better serve small and micro-sized businesses and innovation.
A journalist with Xinhua News Agency asks questions during a press conference ahead of the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2023. The CPPCC National Committee held a press conference on Friday, one day ahead of the top political advisory body's annual session. (Photo/Jin Liangkuai, Xinhua)
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China's top political advisory body to hold annual session from March 4 to 11
Beijing - The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body, will start its annual session at 3 p.m. Saturday in Beijing, a spokesperson said Friday.
The first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee is scheduled to conclude on the afternoon of March 11, Guo Weimin, spokesperson for the session, told a press conference.
During the session, political advisors will hear and deliberate a report about the work of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee and a report on the work of proposals from political advisors, according to Guo.
The political advisors will be present at the first session of the 14th National People's Congress as non-voting participants, and will hear and discuss reports including a government work report, Guo added.
An amendment to the CPPCC charter and a political resolution on the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee will be reviewed and adopted during the session, Guo said.
The election of a new leadership for the top advisory body is also on the agenda, Guo noted.
The members of the 14th CPPCC National Committee fall into 34 groups and are from all of China's 56 ethnic groups, Guo said, adding that 60.8 percent of them are not members of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
They are broadly representative with improved structure of composition, and outstanding individuals from all walks of life have been included, said the spokesperson.
The CPPCC is an important organ for multiparty cooperation and political consultation led by the CPC.