People's Daily, China's national leading newspaper, hails in an editorial the opening of the second session of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which is due to open in the national capital on Wednesday.

The CPPCC National Committee, comprises representatives from various political parties, non-party democrats and people's organizations, participates in political consultations concerning major state policies and key issues concerning the people's life, supervises the works of CPC and the people's government, and makes suggestions and criticisms.

The editorial, which is to be carried on Wednesday's edition, calls for the people from all walks of life across the country to unite and rejuvenate the Chinese nation. The year 2004, says the editorial, is a year of crucial importance to China's reform and development, especially for building a well-off society in an all-round way. The CPPCC should play a more active role in fulfilling this goal.

In spite of a complex, volatile international situation and a host of arduous domestic issues such as natural disasters and emergencies in 2003, the people of all ethnicities across China made new achievements in reform, opening-up and modernization program through their united efforts, says the editorial. And a good beginning was brought about in the building of a well-off society in a comprehensive way with sound economic development, ethnical unity and social stability. 

(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2004)