Proposed amendments to the charter of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) were submitted for approval Sunday, during the ongoing Second Session of 10th National Committee of the CPPCC. The amendments will be put to a vote before the session ends on March 12.

Amending the charter is of vital importance for China to maintain and improve the multiparty cooperation and political consultation systems, as well as to promote socialist political progress, said Jia Qinglin, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee in his work report at the opening of the session last Wednesday.

The revision focuses on the incorporation of the important “Three Represents” concept and other essential ideas and policies adopted at the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) at the end of 2002, said Zheng Wantong, secretary-general of the CPPCC National Committee, when explaining the amendments.

For the first time, the proposed amendments make it clear that “unification and democracy are two major topics of the CPPCC system,” and that multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC are part of the nation’s basic political systems.

With China’s reform, opening and modernization, the united patriotic front has been broadened and if the amendments are accepted, the “builders of the socialist cause” will be added to the front.

The amended charter is also expected to include “consolidate and promote a public economy, and encourage and direct the development of the non-public economy.”

The amendments further stipulate the requirements for and responsibilities and procedures for election of CPPCC members, the secretary-general said.

Calling the amendments as effective and timely, CPPCC member Zheng Xiaoyan said a revised charter will direct CPPCC members’ work by defining clearly their duties and responsibilities.

Yin Dakui, a CPPCC member and director of the Chinese Medical Doctors Association, said: “Generally, I feel the new amendments to the CPPCC charter follow the development of China in recent years.”

He said the government has developed many new concepts and policies and the CPPCC charter should embody such changes.

While applauding the new amendments, Qu Shijing, a CPPCC member and a professor from the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, said he hopes the CPPCC will also use the opportunity to broaden its representative base.

He said China is in a stage of social transformation and the CPPCC provides a platform for different groups of people to voice their concerns and protect their interests.

Qu said there are too few grass-roots CPPCC members with industrial or agricultural backgrounds.

(China Daily March 8, 2004)