Backgrounder: Buildup of CPPCC National Committee

China's top political advisory body is scheduled to begin its annual session on March 3. Buildup of the Tenth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) is as follows:

At present, the CPPCC National Committee consists of representatives of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and non- Communist parties, personages without party affiliation, representatives of people's organizations, ethnic minorities and various social strata. It also has the representation of compatriots of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan, returned overseas Chinese, and specially invited people.

The Tenth CPPCC National Committee consists of 34 social circles including the CPC, eight major non-Communist parties, Federation of Commerce and Industries, All-China Federation of Trade Unions, Communist Youth League, All-China Women's Federation, and sectors such as business, science and technology, education, ethnic minorities and religion, as well as specially invited personages from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan.