Top Chinese political advisor Jia Qinglin delivered a report on the work of CPPCC, the country's top political advisory body, at the opening meeting of its annual session on March 3.

Following are the highlights of the report:

PROMOTING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGAINST GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS

-- Over the past year, the CPPCC closely followed developments in the global financial crisis and the domestic economic situation; intensified its research on the changing situation; and worked hard to increase the initiative, foresight, and pertinence of its comments and suggestions.

-- The CPPCC convened special sessions in which the Standing Committee deliberated government affairs as well as consultation sessions, all centered on the themes of "striving to boost domestic demand and maintaining steady and rapid economic development" and "accelerating economic restructuring and the transformation of the pattern of economic development, and becoming better able to achieve sustainable development." The CPPCC also held a number of meetings to analyze the economic situation.

-- Over the past year, the CPPCC conducted investigations and studies on 53 special topics, organized 13 inspection and investigative teams for members of the Standing Committee and National Committee, and filed more than 1,800 proposals for investigation and referred them to the relevant authorities.

-- The CPPCC continued to make suggestions for developing a green economy, a circular economy, a low-carbon economy, and clean energy; held a meeting to analyze the development situation as it relates to the population, resources, and the environment; intensely carried out activities concerning caring for the country's forests; supported the reform of collective forest rights; deliberated the issues of fighting climate change and developing nuclear and hydroelectric power; and carried out investigations and studies on the ecological protection and development of the sources of the Yangtze, Yellow, and Lancang rivers, the Three Gorges on the Yangtze, and the Hengshui Lake and Ulansuhai Nur wetlands.

-- In 2010, the CPPCC will carry out thorough investigations and studies on improving the institutions, mechanisms and policy orientation for accelerating the transformation of the pattern of economic development.

PROMOTING SOCIAL HARMONY, IMPROVEMENTS IN PEOPLE'S WELLBEING

-- Focusing on issues such as employment for college graduates and rural migrant workers and the effect of the global financial crisis on workers' rights and interests, the CPPCC carried out thorough investigations and studies, and made proposals for extending the active employment policy to townships, towns, and rural areas; establishing a social security system that covers rural migrant workers; and developing labor-intensive industrial zones to create large numbers of jobs.

-- The CPPCC made numerous insightful and significant suggestions and recommendations on important issues such as formulating policies and measures for the coordinated development of social programs, deepening reform of the income distribution system, accelerating the construction of low-income housing, developing the cultural industry and vocational education, improving the basic medical and health care system, safeguarding the rights and interests of disabled people, and carrying out post-Wenchuan earthquake recovery and reconstruction.

-- Over the past year, the CPPCC edited and reported to the central leadership 267 reports on social conditions and popular sentiment, reported 1,435 comments and suggestions, and made more than 1,900 proposals, all of which contributed greatly to promoting social stability.

-- In 2010, the CPPCC will carry out investigations and studies on making innovations in public administration; protecting the rights and interests of employees of stated-owned enterprises converting to a stockholding system; balancing the development of the medical insurance system between urban and rural areas and improving pertinent regulations; training rural health workers and providing supporting policies; developing vocational education, culture and sports; and making the Shanghai World Expo a success, as well as on education, employment, housing, environmental protection and other issues of concern to the people.

-- The CPPCC will give full attention to factors affecting social stability that have their source in the excessive income gap; offer solutions and suggestions on adjusting the pattern of national income distribution, promoting more equitable access to basic public services, and providing social security and assistance to destitute people; and work hard to promote social fairness and justice.

ETHNIC UNITY, RELIGIOUS HARMONY

-- The CPPCC earnestly implemented the Party's ethnic and religious policies, and energetically promoted ethnic unity and religious harmony.

-- The CPPCC conducted thorough investigations and studies on accelerating the economic and social development of autonomous ethnic minority prefectures, resolving problems related to income and social security concerning members of religious orders and employees of religious organizations, improving work concerning mixed ethnic group communities and ethnic minorities in urban areas, developing Tibetan medicine and pharmacology, and developing water conservancy and hydroelectricity in Tibet, with the goal of doing something substantive to improve the working and living conditions of ethnic minorities. The CPPCC actively participated in building solidarity and progress among ethnic groups and in publicity and educational activities on ethnic solidarity.