NPC and CPPCC are a perfect match

I’ve been covering the annual sessions of the National People’s Congress for many consecutive years. Now, for the first time, I have been given the opportunity to cover the full meeting of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee and see the other side of the two sessions — the key annual political event in China.

As a first timer, I’ve been making my best efforts to understand more about China’s top advisory body, its agenda and its role. So even before CPPCC National Committee members arrived in Beijing, I started to ask insiders what they think are the differences between interviewing deputies to the NPC, China’s top legislature, and members of the country’s top advisory body.

“Well, I’m sure you will find their focuses are quite different,” one of the CPPCC media liaisons told me. “CPPCC National Committee members can offer their insights in specific fields, such as science and technology, healthcare and agriculture, while the popular topics among NPC deputies are more about regional development and how to improve people’s lives.”

I then sought guidance from a veteran CPPCC reporter who has been covering its annual sessions for more than 10 years. “Unlike NPC deputies, who are elected and represent the people, the CPPCC National Committee members are nominated, which means most of them are well-respected figures in different social sectors and political parties. So their annual session is the platform for representatives in the same sector to gather together to discuss China’s development path,” she said.

Indeed, it’s simply priceless to have the heavyweights in the technology sector such as the chief designer of China Lunar Exploration Project, China’s top mathematician and water conservancy expert under one roof to offer their views on the country’s affairs.

Offering advice on the Government Work Report has always been an important part of the CPPCC annual session’s agenda. “National political advisers often focus on the key projects mentioned in the report and use their expertise to propose changes that can optimize the implementation process,” the reporter said while sharing her observations.

Yuan Yaxiang, a mathematician and an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said he always looks forward to the annual session of the top advisory body because he believes the exchanges are valuable for China’s development.

“We always speak frankly during discussions and never hesitate to pass on the problems we spot. I think it’s what the country needs. It’s quite rewarding to see my advice being accepted and some even put in the draft of the country’s next five-year development plan,” the CPPCC National Committee member said when I asked him if the members’ advice can make any difference. “Although we don’t have the power to vote, as NPC deputies do, our words also count.”

During the two sessions, the State Council will put the feedback from national political advisers and lawmakers together and make revisions to the Government Work Report. By integrating the feedback from both sides, the report — China’s yearly development plan — can ensure the country’s goals are achieved more efficiently and meet the will of the people.

After seeing both sides of the two sessions, I am confident that by working together and complementing each other, the members of China’s CPPCC National Committee and NPC deputies can help the country stay on the best course of development. They are just a perfect match.