China's top political advisory body opened a meeting to discuss the mapping of the nation's 13th Five-Year Plan on Monday.

The 11th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee was presided over by Yu Zhengsheng, Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee. Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli also attended the meeting which will run until Wednesday.

The 13th Five-Year Plan comes at a very important time for China's economic and social development and is a key period for building a comprehensively well-off society, Yu said at the meeting, urging members to offer worthwhile advice and suggestions for the plan.

Five-year plans have been drawn up since 1953 to map strategies for overall economic and social development, setting growth targets and defining development policies. The 13th Five-Year plan will span 2016-2020.

The new plan should keep pace with the times and be scientific, effective and brand-new, according to Zhang Gaoli.

Zhang also delivered a report at the meeting, calling on authorities to strive for a moderate or high economic growth rate, deepen the reform, advance the economic restructuring and meanwhile protect the environment and improve the people's living standards.

(Xinhua News Agency June 15, 2015)