National political advisers are being called on to better perform their duties in pooling wisdom and building consensus, as the country will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and embark on a new development journey this year, the country's top political adviser said on Thursday.

Last year, the CPPCC has enhanced theoretical study and proactively contributed to the COVID-19 response and economic and social development, said Wang Yang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

This year, the CPPCC will strengthen theoretical and political guidance with a focus on celebrating the centenary of the CPC, and ensure more effective consultations and suggestions with a focus on facilitating the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), he said during a work report for the top political advisory body in Beijing.

Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders attended the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee, held at the Great Hall of the People.

Wang said key tasks this year include: following the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era; fully implementing all guiding principles from the CPC's 19th National Congress and the 19th CPC Central Committee's second through fifth plenary sessions; grounding efforts in the new stage of development, putting into practice the new development philosophy and creating a new development pattern.

The CPPCC National Committee will hold special consultative meetings on how to create a new development pattern and build a more secure China, as well as organize special consultations on implementing the rural revitalization strategy and dealing with the aging population. 

Biweekly consultative meetings will be held to deliberate and offer suggestions on state affairs, such as accelerating the launch of major national science and technology programs, developing a high-quality education system, modernizing industrial and supply chains, ensuring the quality and safety of agricultural products, promoting high-quality development of cultural heritage programs and museums, expanding channels for employment in areas with large ethnic minority populations, improving ecological conservation along the Yangtze Economic Belt, working toward a peak in carbon emissions and carbon neutrality and strengthening the national public health protection network, according to the report.

Wang also urged political advisers nationwide to enhance their capacity to perform duties.

"Our country has entered a new stage of development in which we will build China into a fully modern socialist country, and this shift puts new and higher demands on the CPPCC," he said. 

As members of a specialized consultative body, becoming experts at consultation should naturally be among the most pressing tasks for CPPCC members, he added.

"We need to enhance our capacity to conduct consultation with non-CPC representatives so we can provide effective theoretical and political guidance, with relevant departments so we can translate specialist input into policy options, and with people from different sectors so we can serve as bridges for conveying demands, pooling wisdom and promoting consensus," Wang said.