1st LD-Writethru: China Association for Promoting Democracy to elect new leadership

BEIJING, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The China Association for Promoting Democracy (CAPD), one of China's eight non-communist political parties, will elect a new leadership during its 12th National Congress, which opened here on Friday.

Vice Premier Wang Yang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met congress delegates and delivered a congratulatory message to the association at the opening session on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.

Over the past five years, the CAPD has performed its role in multi-party cooperation, said Wang, praising its contributions to promoting reform and opening and socialist modernization.

The CPC will uphold and improve the system of CPC-led multi-party cooperation and political consultation, he said.

In handling its relationships with other political parties, the CPC will adhere to the principle of long-term coexistence, mutual oversight, treating each other with sincerity and sharing of both good and bad times, according to Wang.

Wang said the CPC will support these parties in performing their duties in line with the requirements of socialism with Chinese characteristics for their participation in governance, and consolidate and develop the broadest possible patriotic united front.

Wang appealed to the CAPD members to learn and implement the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

CAPD chairwoman Yan Junqi delivered a report on the party's work over the past five years.

Yan said the CAPD will study and implement the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress, and carry out its duties as a participant party.

She said the CAPD will contribute more wisdom to completing the building of a moderately prosperous society, the success of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, and the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation.

A new party central committee will be elected at the congress.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Friday congratulated the CAPD on the opening of its national congress.

As a time-tested intimate partner with the CPC and one of the participating parties in building Socialism with Chinese Characteristics, the CAPD has played an important role during the country's process of standing up, growing rich and becoming strong, says the congratulatory message.

The CAPD is also an important force in securing a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, accomplishing Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, as well as realizing the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation, says the message.

The CAPD has provided valuable suggestions over the past five years on issues including the balanced development of compulsory education, to boosting the manufacturing industry via the reform of vocational education, and establishing a modern public cultural service system, the message says.

The Central Committee of the CPC will continue to follow the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and insist on the multi-party cooperation and political consultation system under the leadership of the CPC, it continues.

In the meantime, the CAPD is encouraged to follow major tasks raised at the 19th CPC National Congress and give full play to its strength in the development of education and the building of China into an innovative country.

Founded in 1945, the CAPD membership mainly consists of intellectuals working in the fields of culture, education, publishing and science. Enditem