China's top advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, has opened its annual session in Beijing. As a mechanism for active participation in the country's policy-making process, the CPPCC session is set to discuss a series of issues related to economic development, culture heritage proection and the upcoming Olympic Games. CRI's Zheng Chenguang reports.

Reporter:

My proposal is on the issue of the legislation of Chinese traditional medicine. Also I think the country should reform the Chinese traditional medicine institutions.

One of my proposals is on the further development of Sichuan Province as the country engages in its drive to the develop China's western regions.

My proposal is to make August 8 a national sports festival so people will remember this historical moment.

These are just some of the over 2,200 CPPCC members attending this year's session. They have brought with them some solicited opinions from the public on a wide spectrum of issues. CPPCC members' role of conveying public opinion in China's political affairs has been highlighted by Jia Qinglin, the country's top advisor, in a work report delivered at the opening session.

The CPPCC members have put forward many important opinions and suggestions on key issues, such as the creation and implementation of the Eleventh Five Year Plan; construction of a harmonious society; strengthening and improving macro control measures; as well as building a new socialist countryside. They also made crucial proposals on the establishment of an energy saving and environmentally friendly society, the adjustment of the economic structure and transformation of the economic development mode.

Jia Qinglin also says he looks forward to future progress, which he says will require concerted efforts from all sides.

Since its founding in 1949, the CPPCC has consisted of elite members of Chinese society. Ye Jiannong, vice principal of the East China Normal University and a CPPCC member says the wide representation of the advisory body is its big asset.

The CPPCC members usually come from schools, research institutes, factories or businesses. They know what the ordinary people want, because they contact ordinary people every day, so they know what happens. They have firsthand information. I think when they participate in this national meeting; they can directly reflect people's desires, what people want.

Foreign media have also shown great interest in the political gathering.

Raghavendra is an Indian reporter.

President Hu Jintao has been stressing creating a moderately prosperous society, so China is moving faster to achieve that goal. I'll be interested in learning what next steps the leadership will decide to take the country further towards that direction. I'll be interested in the political and economic reforms that are going be unfolding in these two sessions.

The 11-day CPPCC session will serve as a platform for both Chinese and foreigners to learn about and assess the country's future development.

Zheng Chenguang, CRI News.