Chinese leaders attend deliberations at annual legislative session

BEIJING, March 7 -- Senior Chinese leaders on Saturday attended deliberations at the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), the national legislature.

Top political advisor Wang Huning took part in a group deliberation with NPC deputies from the Taiwan delegation. He said that over the past year, efforts have been made to properly respond to the complex and severe situation in the Taiwan Strait and vigorously chart the course of cross-Strait relations.

Wang, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, urged promoting the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and advancing the cause of national reunification. He also called for resolute opposition against "Taiwan independence" separatist activities and external interference.

Cai Qi, a member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, participated in a group deliberation with his fellow deputies from Qinghai Province. He encouraged Qinghai to pursue differentiated development and development with distinctive characteristics in accordance with local conditions, and to adhere to ecological priority.

Cai also asked the province to foster a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and promote interactions, exchanges, and integration among all ethnic groups.

Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang attended group deliberations with deputies from Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, respectively. He called on the two regions to actively align with the 15th Five-Year Plan to better integrate into and serve the country's overall development, so as to make greater contribution to advancing Chinese modernization.

Ding called for continuously consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong's status as an international financial, shipping and trade center, and fully leveraging its strengths in education, science and technology, and talent to promote the long-term prosperity and stability of the region. He also called for further advancing the development of the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin.

Wang, Cai and Ding are all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.