The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has held a symposium and a consultative meeting to hear opinions and inform non-Communist parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) and personages without party affiliations about Party and state institution reform.

President Xi Jinping, also General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, presided over the symposium and the consultative meeting, which were held on February 6 and February 28, respectively.

Xi made important speeches on both occasions.

Attendees were informed of a decision by the CPC Central Committee on deepening reform of Party and state institutions as well as a plan for the reform.

The CPC Central Committee also informed them of a list of proposed candidates for state leadership scheduled to be recommended to the first session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), and a list of proposed candidates for the leadership of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which is to be recommended to the first session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee.

Senior officials Li Keqiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng also attended the symposium and the meeting.

"Party and state institutions form an important part of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics and a significant guarantee for state governance," Xi said.

Xi stressed the need to improve the Party's leadership over major work, and optimize functions of administrative departments and further streamline administration in deepening reform of Party and state institutions.

He also called for perfecting the distribution of the Party and administration institutions, delegating institutions under the provincial level more autonomy, and managing various institutions and organizations according to the law.

"Deeper reform of Party and state institutions is an important part of implementing the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress," he said. "It is also a significant task in upholding Party leadership, improving and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernizing China's system and capacity for governance."

Xi said the upcoming first session of the 13th NPC and the first session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee were another big issue in the political life of the Chinese people of all ethnic groups after the 19th CPC National Congress.

Election of a new state leadership and leadership of the CPPCC

National Committee will be important tasks at the two sessions, which is also a big issue concerning the overall situation, Xi said.

The CPC Central Committee has attached great importance to the election, conducted research, and consulted and heard opinions within a certain range, he said.

He said that during the consultation, attendees agreed that the election should be focused on coordinately implementing the "five-sphere integrated plan" and the "four-pronged comprehensive strategy," improving and developing the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernizing China's system and capacity for governance.

The election should also be focused on improving the work of the NPC and the CPPCC National Committee, as well as uniting and pooling various resources, with an emphasis on ability and political integrity when appointing officials, he said, adding that efforts should be made to actively and steadily promote the transition of senior state leaders.

After being discussed at meetings of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, lists of proposed candidates for state leadership and the CPPCC National Committee were submitted for review at the third plenum of the 19th CPC Central Committee, which concluded on .

Xi said he hoped non-Communist parties, the ACFIC and personages without party affiliations would unite in thought and action while supporting the CPC Central Committee decisions to deepen reform.

They are encouraged to raise sound suggestions, coordinate relations and gather wide consensus to synergize efforts and create a sound environment for reform.

Deputies and political advisors of non-Communist parties, ACFIC and personages without party affiliations are also encouraged to fulfill their duties and promote positive energy at the two sessions, Xi said.

Leaders of non-Communist parties, the ACFIC and representative of the personages without party affiliations unanimously agreed upon the decision by the CPC Central Committee on deepening reform of Party and state institutions, and voiced their staunch support and raised suggestions.

(Xinhua News Agency March 1, 2018)