Draft amendment to CPPCC charter unveiled for discussion

A draft amendment to the charter of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body, was submitted for deliberation on Thursday at the ongoing session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee.

“New content includes the new important thinking, views, judgments and measures proposed at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China,” Zhang Qingli, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, said while briefing political advisers on the revision.

Major decisions and plans concerning the CPPCC’s work made by the CPC Central Committee with Xi Jinping at the core since the 18th CPC National Congress, as well as the CPPCC’s achievements in theoretical, practical and institutional innovation, are also planned to be added, he said.

Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era has been incorporated into the guiding theories of the CPPCC. The Scientific Outlook on Development has also been added, according to the draft amendment.

The definition of the CPPCC’s nature and tasks has been enriched.

Expressions such as the CPPCC “is an important component of China’s governance system and an institutional arrangement unique to China” have been added, the draft read.

Also, the draft said a new paragraph on socialist consultative democracy has been added.

“Consultative democracy is a model and strength unique to China’s socialist democracy. The CPPCC is a major channel for socialist consultative democracy, and its committees are specialist consultative bodies,” part of the paragraph read.

Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, who chaired the presidium meeting of the session of the political advisory body, was present at Thursday’s meeting.

The CPPCC is an important organ for multiparty cooperation and political consultation led by the CPC.

The current CPPCC charter was adopted in 1982 and has undergone three amendments in 1994, 2000 and 2004.

The session, which opened on Saturday, will run until March 15.