Chinese leaders, non-CPC elite discuss 13th Five-year Plan

Chinese leaders met non-communist and business chiefs to listen to their opinions on the 13th Five-year Plan proposal approved at Thursday's plenary session. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, presided over the meeting on August 21, attended by leaders of democratic parties such as Jiusan Society and China Democratic League, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) and economist Justin Yifu Lin, representative of non-party personages, Xinhua learnt from the CPC Central Committee on Friday. Central leaders Li Keqiang, Yu Zhengsheng and Zhang Gaoli were also present. The attendees said they backed the central leadership's proposals but made suggestions on various issues concerning the economic growth target, poverty alleviation, the aging population and green development. Xi said the central leadership would seriously consider their suggestions. He stressed that the plan must focus on the goal of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society. China will face up to a lot of new situations and problems from 2016 to 2020, chief among them being the plateauing economy, the president noted. Adapting to this "new normal" and sustaining healthy economic and social development is crucial, he said. The proposal highlighted five development ideas, "innovation, coordination, the environment, opening up and sharing," and all must be implemented if China is to be successful, according to Xi. He urged members of non-CPC parties, the ACFIC and personages without party affiliation to pool wisdom and strength for the formation of the plan.