Settling conflicts tops instructions from Hu
Settling ethnic conflicts and reducing social confrontations are the two overriding missions for the mainland's political advisory body, President Hu Jintao told its members yesterday.
Hu made the remarks in a keynote speech marking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing, which falls today.
They come during a period of ethnic tension with the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic only 10 days away.
The report quoted Hu as stressing that persisting with promoting intra-party democracy and strengthening solidarity were two other key points for members to carry out fulfil their missions.
Delegates 'must ... assist the party and the government in doing its ethnic and religious work well, promote national unity, religious harmony and social stability', he said.
More than 800 representatives from various fields attended the meeting.
Hu called on them to put in an all-out effort into consolidating the ethnic and religious policies designated by the Communist Party, making the best use of the CPPCC by using their vast diversity in ethnic and religious discussions.
They were also urged to assist the party and the government by strengthening ethnic solidarity, religious harmony and social stability.
The challenge of handling ethnic conflicts between Han Chinese and Uygurs in Xinjiang is now topping the party's agenda, particularly in the wake of the rioting in Urumqi on July 5 that left nearly 200 people dead.
Hu also warned the delegates that China would encounter many predictable and unpredictable difficulties on the road to development.
In the hope of alleviating the widening disparity between the rich and the poor nationwide, Hu also instructed the delegates to address and reflect the aspirations of different levels of society, to help the party and the government allocate resources among the various parties more fairly.
Others in attendance were top legislator Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao, propaganda chief Li Changchun, Vice-President Xi Jinping, standing Vice-Premier Li Keqiang, top graft-buster He Guoqiang and the highest official in charge of law enforcement, Zhou Yongkang. As chairman of the CPPCC, Jia Qinglin presided over the meeting.
Founded on September 21, 1949, the CCPPC was meant to be composed of people from all walks of life, such as from political parties, organisations, ethnic groups and various sectors of society.
Although it originally claimed to be an institution of co-operation and political consultation led by the Communist Party, it changed significantly after the Anti-Rightist Movement in 1957.
The notorious campaign labelled 500,000 intellectuals as rightists and they were taken into custody for voicing their disappointment with the party and society.
As a result, the CPPCC has since then been reduced to nothing more than 'political vases'.
It now includes many wealthy entrepreneurs since the reform and opening-up campaign driven by the late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping.
