Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), has called for continued mind emancipation and relentless effort to push forward the reform and opening-up drive.

Jia, also member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau, made the remarks at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee Saturday.

Jia recalled the Third Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the CPC Central Committee, in 1978, in which late leader Deng Xiaoping ushered in a new period of reform and opening-up to the outside world.

The reform and opening-up has greatly rekindled the vitality of socialism and enhanced China's international status, he said. He called for dealing with current economic and social issues with continued efforts of mind emancipation as the country's reform and opening-up is entering a crucial stage.

(Xinhua News Agency July 6, 2008)