The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held a symposium with non-CPC personages on Dec. 6 at Zhongnanhai in Beijing to seek opinions and suggestions from leaders of the central committees of non-CPC political parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), and the representative of personages with no party affiliation, on the economic situation this year and economic work of the next year. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting and delivered an important speech. Noting that the next year marks the final year for implementing the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), he stressed that it is necessary to fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and the second and the third plenary sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee under the guidance of the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Efforts must be made to adhere to the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, fully and accurately implement the new development philosophy on all fronts, accelerate the building of a new development paradigm, and effectively promote high-quality development. It is also essential to comprehensively deepen reform, expand high-standard opening up, build a modernized industrial system and better coordinate development and security. Work will be done to carry out macroeconomic policies that are more proactive and impactful, expand domestic demand, promote the integrated development of technological and industrial innovation, stabilize the property and stock markets, and prevent and resolve risks in key areas and external shocks. With these efforts, expectations should be kept steady, and more vitality should be unleashed, so as to sustain the upward trend of the economy, improve living standards for the people and maintain social harmony and stability. The goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan should then be completed with high quality and a solid foundation should be laid for a good start of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).

The symposium was attended by Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi and Ding Xuexiang, all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. Entrusted by the CPC Central Committee, Li Qiang briefed the meeting on this year's economic work and introduced relevant considerations for the economic work of the next year.

Those who spoke at the symposium include Zheng Jianbang, chairman of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, Ding Zhongli, chairman of the Central Committee of the China Democratic League, Hao Mingjin, chairman of the Central Committee of the China National Democratic Construction Association, Cai Dafeng, chairman of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, He Wei, chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, Jiang Zuojun, chairman of the Central Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party, Wu Weihua, chairman of the Central Committee of the Jiusan Society, Su Hui, chairperson of the Central Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League, Gao Yunlong, chairman of the ACFIC, and Bao Xinhe, representative of personages without party affiliation. They fully agreed with the CPC Central Committee's analysis and judgment of the current economic situation and its planning and considerations for next year's economic work. They put forward opinions and suggestions on accelerating the development of new quality productive forces, appropriately intensifying macroeconomic regulation, improving the efficiency of fiscal funds, strengthening the ecosystem construction for scientific and technological innovation, creating a new ecosystem of energy consumption, pushing forward the construction of national laboratories, promoting and increasing the employment of skilled talent, bolstering the healthy development of the private economy, and deepening cross-Strait integrated development.

After listening to their speeches attentively, Xi said the attendees fully affirmed the achievements of this year's economic work and put forward a lot of good suggestions for next year's economic work, adding that the CPC Central Committee will carefully study and absorb their views.

Xi pointed out that in the face of a more complex international and domestic environment this year, the CPC Central Committee has united and led the whole Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in withstanding pressures, overcoming difficulties, calmly responding to changes and taking comprehensive measures. The Chinese economy has posted generally stable performance, making progress while ensuring stability. The major tasks and targets for economic and social development will be successfully accomplished, with new solid steps taken in Chinese modernization.

Xi emphasized that since the beginning of this year, the non-CPC parties, the ACFIC and personages without party affiliation have focused on promoting Chinese modernization, actively carried out key research and investigations on developing new quality productive forces and promoting domestic economic circulation, strengthened democratic oversight over the ecological environment protection of the Yangtze River, and submitted various research reports and suggestions to the CPC Central Committee. These contributions have provided important references for the CPC Central Committee's scientific decision-making and effective policy implementation. He expressed heartfelt gratitude to them on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.

Xi said it is a must to firm up the confidence of success so as to do a good job in economic work next year. China's economy has a solid foundation with many advantages, strong resilience and great potential, and the supporting conditions and fundamental trend for its long-term sound development remain unchanged. He urged efforts to maintain strategic focus, take the initiative to create an external environment favorable to the country, unswervingly manage the country's own affairs well, and transform all positive factors into actual achievements in development.

Xi stressed that doing a good job in economic work next year requires the joint efforts and hard work of the whole Party and the entire society. Currently, China's development faces a multitude of uncertainties and challenges that demand much attention and need to be properly addressed. Challenges and difficulties arise every year, but the country has always developed amidst the storms and grown through trials. He called for making full preparations, achieving the goals of economic and social development next year through unremitting efforts, and opening up new prospects for the country's development.

Xi put forward three hopes for the non-CPC parties, the ACFIC, and personages without party affiliation. First, they should enhance political awareness and assist the Party and government in doing a good job in economic work. They should think in big-picture terms, strengthen awareness of the overall situation, and consciously play the role of participating in the overall work of the Party and the state. They should leverage the unique advantage of the united front to assist the Party and government in publicizing policies, stabilizing expectations, and resolving conflicts, and to guide their members and the masses they connect with to view the economic situation and the overall development trend comprehensively and dialectically, champion the underlying values, and project positive energy. Second, they should leverage the advantage of a pool of talents and actively contribute ideas and efforts to the decision-making of the CPC Central Committee. They should conduct in-depth research on key issues related to reform, development and stability, and provide forward-looking and feasible opinions and suggestions. They should also accurately understand the nature and positioning of democratic oversight, strengthen coordination and collaboration in work, and promote the implementation of various national strategies. Third, they should strengthen self-improvement and further enhance their capacity of participation in and deliberation of state affairs. They should strengthen work on the leadership and team building with strict demands, constraints and supervision, and severely punish those involved in corruption. They should arm themselves with theories and keep their knowledge updated, strengthen practice, and continuously improve their ability to perform duties and participate in and deliberate on state affairs.

Shi Taifeng, Liu Guozhong, He Lifeng, Zhang Guoqing, Wu Zhenglong, and heads of relevant departments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council attended the symposium.

Other participants from outside the Party included Shao Hong, He Baoxiang, Wang Guangqian, Qin Boyong, Zhu Yongxin, Yang Zhen, Zhang Endi, An Lijia, Tian Xuan, among others.