Colorful ethnic and religious members of the 11th CPPCC National Committee meeting pose for a photo session in Beijing before the meeting.—Xinhua

The First Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference started in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday afternoon.

A total of 2,195 CPPCC National Committee members from throughout China attended the meeting. They will underline major concerns of the nation's development during the annual session scheduled to conclude on March 14.

CPPCC National Committee Chairman Jia Qinglin delivered a keynote report on the work of the Standing Committee of the 10th CPPCC National Committee over the past five years when the session started at 3pm.

"We gave full rein to the important role of the CPPCC as a political organization and form of democracy," Jia said.

Over the past five years, the CPPCC National Committee members have listened to the government work reports and other important reports, and submitted comments and suggestions about revising the Constitution, and formulating important laws and regulations such as the Anti-Secession Law.

Leading comrades of the Communist Party of China Central Committee participated in 71 group discussions of the CPPCC National Committee members on state affairs, Jia said.

Responsible people from the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and concerned departments listened to speeches at the sessions of the National Committee.

Jia urged political advisers to continue contributing suggestions and efforts focused on scientific development after listing a number of supervision and investigation activities the CPPCC National Committee organized over the past five years, including inspections on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway and the protection of natural grasslands in Tibet.

He also urged political advisers to join hands with Taiwan people in containing separatist activities aimed at "Taiwan independence".

Top CPC and state leaders Hu Jintao, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Zeng Qinghong, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang were present at the meeting.

Vital role

The CPPCC, which is an important component of China's political system, has an irreplaceable role in developing socialist democratic politics, Jia said.

The spokesman for the CPPCC session Wu Jianmin said on Sunday that more eligible non-Communists are expected to become high-ranking officials in China following last year's appointments of two non-Communist ministers.

Across China, more than 31,000 non-Communists are working as officials at or above county level, of whom at least 6,000 work at government organizations and judicial bodies at various levels, according to Wu.

More than 60 percent of the 11th CPPCC National Committee members were non-CPC members, and all the 56 ethnic groups have their representatives in the top advisory body, he added.