China is a multi-national and multi-party country. Before the 
state adopts important measures or makes decisions on major issues 
having bearing on the national economy and the people's livelihood, 
the Communist Party of China, as the party in power, consults with 
all ethnic groups, all political parties, all circles and nonparty 
democrats in order to reach a common understanding. This system, 
called multi-party cooperation and political consultation system led 
by the CPC, is also a basic political system of China. 

   The multi-party cooperation and political consultation system 
adopts two main forms. One is the Chinese People's Political 
Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the other is the consultative 
meetings and forums of democratic parties and nonparty personages 
held by the CPC Central Committee or local Party committees at 
different levels. 
 
   On March 3, 1998 the First Session of the Ninth National Committee 
of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference was solemnly
opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The CPPCC has a 
national committee and local committees at the provincial (autonomous 
regional or municipal) level and at the county (city) level, which 
consists of representatives from the CPC, democratic parties, 
nonparty democrats, people's organizations, ethnic minorities and all 
walks of life, compatriots from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, returned 
overseas Chinese and specially invited individuals. The committees 
at various levels hold a plenary session once a year and, when the 
committee is not in session, organize the committee members to conduct
special activities, go on inspection tours to various localities, hold
consultations on major issues relating to major state policies, 
important local affairs, people's lives and the united front work and 
exercise democratic supervision over the work of state organs and the 
implementation of the state constitution and laws by offering opinions,
proposals and criticisms. The First Session of the Ninth National 
Committee of the CPPCC, held March 3-14, 1998, was a transition 
conference as well as a conference of grand unity, encouraging the 
people of all ethnic groups and walks of life throughout the country 
to work for the realization of the great cross-century objectives put 
forward at the 15th National Congress of the CPC. The session examined
 and adopted the Report on the Work of the Standing Committee of the 
Eighth National Committee of the CPPCC. All members attended the First
Session of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC) as non-voting 
delegates; heard and discussed the Report on the Work of the Government
made by Premier Li Peng on behalf of the State Council and other 
reports; and proffered many useful opinions and proposals. The 
session also elected the new leaders of the National Committee of the 
CPPCC. Li Ruihuan was elected chairman of the National Committee of 
the CPPCC. The consultative meetings participated in by leaders of 
democratic parties and representatives of nonparty democrats at the 
invitation of leaders of the CPC Central Committee are held once a 
year and the forums are held once every other month, the former mainly
to discuss major state policies along the democratic line and the 
latter mainly to exchange information, hear proposals on policy or 
discuss certain subjects.