(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-11-17 18:38

China's top political advisor stressed the role of the non-public sector in the country's economic development here on Saturday, while giving praise to the work of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) in uniting those from the sector.

Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 10th Congress of ACFIC.

Jia, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) Central Committee, said the federation had played an essential role in uniting those from the non-public sector and rallied their efforts to help advance the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

He said the federation had functioned as a bridge between the Party and government and the people from the non-public sector of the economy. It had facilitated the government with the management of the sector.

The 17th National Congress of the CPC emphasized the country needed to uphold and improve the basic economic system in which public ownership was dominant. In addition, different economic sectors needed to be developed side by side. The government also should ensure the equal protection of property rights and create a new situation in that all economic sectors compete on an equal footing and reinforce each other.

The government would promote equitable market access, improve the financing environment and remove institutional barriers to promote the development of individually-owned businesses and private companies as well as small- and medium-sized enterprises, Jia said. He added that all these had created a sound environment for the development of the non-public sector and indicated the direction for the work of the ACFIC.

He said that the federation should support non-public enterprises to follow the Scientific Outlook on Development, and contribute to the sound and rapid economic development. It should also strive to expand its membership and improve its capacity of self-governance and self-discipline.

Huang Mengfu, ACFIC chairman and vice-chairman of the National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), delivered a report to the congress that recalled the federation's work over the past five years and guidelines for the next five years. He pointed out the ACFIC's mission was to encourage, support and supervise the development of the non-public sector.

The congress discussed the work report of the federation's 9th Executive Committee, elected the 10th executive committee and discussed the draft for the revision of the ACFIC constitution.

The ACFIC was established in 1953. It currently has some 2.14 million members nationwide, an increase of 37.8 percent from 2002, and the number of enterprise members has increased by 80.2 percent to 782,000.

It has set up collaborations with chambers of commerce in more than 100 countries and regions.