The current session of the Ninth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held its third plenary meeting in Beijing Thursday, with CPPCC National Committee Chairman Li Ruihuan and State Councilor Luo Gan attending.
Eleven members of the CPPCC National Committee spoke at the meeting, airing their views on a number of economic issues as well as the development of education and sports in the country.
Economic integration of the eastern, central and western parts of the country is the key to implementing the strategy of accelerating the development of west China, said Ai Feng, a senior journalist.
Wang Senhao, a former minister of coal industry, talked about ways to help the country's difficulty-laden coal industry, which include strengthening management, turning coal producers into large enterprise groups, and integrating coal mines with power stations or steel plants.
Four speakers focused on education and the fostering of talent to meet the demands of the modernization drive in the IT era.
Ye Lang, speaking on behalf of some non-party-affiliated members, called the cultural industry one of the most promising sector worldwide in the new century and said that priority should be given to developing the industry.
Zhu Shuhao and Zhang Faqiang supported Beijing's bid to host the 2008 Olympiad.
Present at the meeting were 23 vice chairmen of the CPPCC National Committee.
(Xinhua 03/08/2001)
