Top political advisory body shortens annual session

BEIJING - China's national political advisors will condense their discussions about state affairs in Beijing this year amid calls by the Chinese leaders to host more efficient meetings.

The first session of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body, will open on Sunday afternoon and last nine days, compared with ten days last year.

Lyu Xinhua, spokesman for the session, said on Saturday that Chairman of the 11th CPPCC National Committee Jia Qinglin will deliver a report on the work of the CPPCC National Committee's Standing Committee over the past five years.

Wan Gang, vice-chairman of the 11th CPPCC National Committee, will report how the suggestions and proposals from political advisors had been handled, Lyu said at a press conference.

About 2,200 CPPCC national political advisors, coming from different sectors across the country, are expected to elect the new leadership of the CPPCC National Committee, he said.

Although the duration of the annual session is shortened, political advisors will have their agenda filled over the coming nine days, as they will discuss a report on government work, to be delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao, a plan on the restructuring of central departments under the State Council, and reports on the work of the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, according to the spokesman.

Leaders of the Communist Party of China and the state will attend the opening and closing sessions of the CPPCC conference, and participate in the advisors' discussions, Lyu said.