The Second Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) concluded Thursday morning, pledging efforts to help maintain steady and relatively fast economic development in 2009.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee who presided over the closing meeting, described the annual session as a success in boosting confidence and strengthening unity for China's development.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, presides over the closing meeting.

"This year is crucial for us to brave grave challenges both at home and abroad and achieve new progress," Jia said.

He urged the political advisors to shoulder their responsibilities, keep in mind the people's well-being, and contribute to the national effort to maintain steady and relatively fast economic development.

The meeting adopted the work report of the 11th CPPCC National Committee's Standing Committee over the past year, and a report on how suggestions and proposals from CPPCC members were handled since the last session.

A total of 1,987 members of the 11th CPPCC National Committee had submitted 5,571 proposals on economic development, government building, democracy and the legal system, among others, by 2 p.m. on March 8.

According to the report on the handling of proposals, political advisors attached great importance to issues related to people's well-being.

They raised 551 proposals on maintaining economic growth, calling for effort to boost economic restructuring and expand domestic demand under the backdrop of the global financial crisis.

Their proposals also include 603 on farmers and agricultural and rural development, 632 on employment, 301 on social security, 657 on education, 426 on medical services and health care, 146 on food safety, and 294 on promoting democracy and the rule of law, says the report.

The Committee for Handling Proposals of the CPPCC National Committee called two special meetings during the 10-day annual session, focusing on employment of returned migrant workers and stimulation of domestic demand for steady and relatively rapid economic growth.

Major officials from key government departments such as the National Development and Reform Commission joined in discussions about how to handle the proposals at the two meetings.

According to the report, the CPPCC National Committee will hold a meeting on March 24, when the proposals will be transferred to 168 government departments and units for further handling.

A political resolution also adopted at the closing meeting hailed China's achievements over the past year, saying that the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee had led people of all ethnic groups in advancing socialist economic, political, cultural and social development and ecosystem preservation despite major challenges rarely seen in history.

"Maintaining steady and relatively fast economic development was the principal task in this year's economic work in China," says the resolution, calling on CPPCC members to perform their duty earnestly to help mitigate the impact of the global financial crisis on the country.