Chinese Party and state leaders Jiang Zemin, Li Peng, Zhu Rongji, Hu Jintao, Wei Jianxing and Li Lanqing were present at the closing session presided over by CPPCC National Committee Vice-Chairman Ye Xuanping.

Addressing the closing, Li Ruihuan, chairman of the Ninth CPPCC National Committee, called on the 1,975 CPPCC National Committee members to sum up their experience while continuing to perform their duties in order to bring the current CPPCC National Committee to a successful conclusion and make necessary preparations for the next CPPCC National Committee.

Li stressed the role of CPPCC in coordinating relations, saying that CPPCC organizations at all levels should do more in communicating all social quarters and rally the people of all walks of life under the common goal and promote the great unity of the Chinese nation.

"CPPCC members should reflect timely the real situation of all aspects of social life and the voices of the people and serve as a bridge that links the people of all walks of life and the government," he added.

He urged CPPCC members to carry out in-depth investigations and study into major issues concerning the national economy and the livelihood of the people, and put forward practicable recommendations so that policies of the government have taken into consideration the interests of all parties.

He also urged CPPCC members to keep abreast of the changing situation, do more creative work and raise the level of their performances so as to display a dynamic role in maintaining social harmony, stability and well-coordinated development.

The closing session adopted a political resolution, giving a high appraisal of the achievements made by the Party central committee with Jiang Zemin at the core over the past year and expressing full confidence in realizing the objectives set for the new year.

The political resolution said that the CPPCC members showed great concerned for a number of problems regarding reform, development and stability and raised a number of proposals on such problems as expanding domestic demand, accelerating the development of agriculture and rural economy, increasing the income of farmers and expanding employment and reemployment.

The resolution pledged continued hard efforts to do the CPPCC work well.

The closing session also adopted two other resolutions, accepting the report on the work of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC Ninth National Committee and the report on proposals by CPPCC members.

During the session, CPPCC members attended the Fifth Session of the Ninth National People's Congress as observers.

(People's Daily March 13, 2002)