CPC congratulates China Democratic League on opening of national congress

Li Zhanshu, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, reads a congratulatory message on behalf of the CPC Central Committee at the 12th national congress of the China Democratic League (CDL) in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 6, 2017. The congress opened in Beijing on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has sent a congratulatory message to the China Democratic League (CDL) on the opening of its 12th national congress.

Li Zhanshu, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, read the message on behalf of the CPC Central Committee at the congress, which opened Wednesday.

In the message, the CPC Central Committee expressed appreciation of the league's work over the past five years in providing suggestions for political affairs, and its contributions to the development of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

It also acknowledged the league's accomplishments in fulfilling its responsibilities and breaking new ground, as well as its progress in social service.

According to the message, the CDL was encouraged to continue to use its advantages in education, culture, and science and technology to implement its duty, and better take on the political responsibilities as practitioner and protector of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

It called on the league's next central committee to enhance its self construction, and improve its abilities to participate in state affairs, to organize and cooperate, and to solve its own problems.

"It is a long-term policy of the CPC to give full play to the advantages of the united front, and to strengthen its unity and cooperation with the non-Communist political parties," the message said.

Chen Changzhi, chairperson of the China National Democratic Construction Association, another non-Communist political party, also read a congratulatory letter at the congress on behalf of the central committees of China's non-Communist political parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce.

Zhang Baowen, executive chairperson of the congress presidium, delivered a work report, calling on league members to study and implement the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress, and devote themselves to the prosperity of the country, the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, the progress of the society and the happiness of the people.

The congress is scheduled to elect the league's new central committee.

Founded in 1941, as one of the eight non-Communist political parties on the Chinese mainland, the CDL had more than 282,000 members around China as of December 2016.