On August 31, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held a symposium attended by non-CPC personages at Zhongnanhai in Beijing to solicit opinions and suggestions from the central committees of the other political parties, heads of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and personages without party affiliation on the draft report of the 19th CPC Central Committee to the upcoming 20th CPC National Congress. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee presided over the symposium and made an important speech. He stressed that in the face of the new tasks and requirements presented by the new era and new journey, the CPC and the other political parties must strengthen cooperation, consolidate and develop the broadest patriotic united front, pool the wisdom and strength of people from all social strata and circles to the maximum extent, give full play to the enthusiasm, initiative and creativity of the whole society and entire nation, and strive together to build a modern socialist country in all respects and achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng also attended.

At the symposium, Xi introduced the process of how the draft report was conceived and expressed his hope to receive keen perspectives and insights from non-CPC personages about it.

At the symposium, Wan E'xiang, chairperson of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, Chen Xiaoguang, executive vice chairperson of the Central Committee of the China Democratic League, Hao Mingjin, chairperson of the Central Committee of the China National Democratic Construction Association, Cai Dafeng, chairperson of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, Chen Zhu, chairperson of the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, Wan Gang, chairperson of the Central Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party, Wu Weihua, chairperson of the Central Committee of Jiusan Society, Su Hui, chairperson of the Central Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League, Gao Yunlong, chairperson of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and Gao Hongjun, a representative of personages without party affiliation, respectively gave their speeches. They considered the past five years since the CPC’s 19th National Congress and the past decade into the new era unusual and extraordinary. They noted that the CPC Central Committee, with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, has kept in mind the overall picture for national rejuvenation and major changes in the world unseen in a century, united and led the whole Party, the military and Chinese people of all ethnic groups in effectively responding to the grave and complicated international and domestic situation and a series of major risks and challenges that kept emerging, pushing forward socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new era in an energetic manner. Our first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects has been achieved on schedule, and historic achievements and shifts have been realized in the cause of the Party and the country, writing a glorious chapter in history. The draft report to the 20th CPC National Congress, from a commanding height in considering both China’s national rejuvenation and the drastic changes in the world unseen in a century, soundly lays out goals, tasks, and major policies for developing the cause of the Party and the country in the next five years or even longer period to come, putting forward a series of new approaches, strategies and measures. It will serve as a guiding document for us to advance toward the second centenary goal of building China into a modern socialist country in all respects. The participants also put forward their opinions and suggestions regarding promoting consensus on the great national rejuvenation, building an international communication and discourse system on human rights, pursuing higher-standard opening up under the "dual circulation" pattern, boosting the revitalization of northeast China, strengthening the building of the united front and China's political party system as well as the ideological and political work among non-CPC intellectuals, enhancing independent innovation and encouraging entrepreneurs to be more innovative, improving the management systems in universities and forming a mechanism for ensuring sustainable and stable funding for public health.

After their discussions, Xi delivered an important speech. He said that drafting the report of the 19th CPC Central Committee to the 20th CPC National Congress is an essential part of the preparation work for the congress. In order to ensure the report represents the common will of the entire Party and Chinese people of all ethnic groups, meets the requirements of developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in a new era, and adapts to the new situation and tasks faced by our Party and country, we gave full play to democracy by deepening investigations and research and hearing people's views in an extensive manner so as to pool wisdom from all parties. Soliciting opinions from non-CPC personages on the report is an important part of political consultation as well as an effective way for non-CPC personages to air their views and advice for our country's development and national rejuvenation.

Xi stressed that in late February this year, the CPC Central Committee entrusted its United Front Work Department to solicit opinions and suggestions from non-CPC personages on issues related to the 20th CPC National Congress, and many valuable opinions and suggestions were put forward. Since the first half of 2022, the central committees of the other political parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and personages without party affiliation have conducted fact-finding missions in various forms, getting a number of high-quality findings and putting forward valuable opinions and suggestions. They offered some very good suggestions during their speeches at the meeting, which, Xi said, were constructive and would be seriously considered. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, Xi expressed gratitude to all at attendance.

He pointed out that maintaining commitment to the united front is an important historical experience of the Party over the past century. The historic achievements and shifts in the cause of the Party and the country over the past 10 years in the new era are the results of the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the hard work of the Chinese people of all ethnic groups, and the joint efforts of all members of the united front, including the other political parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and personages without party affiliation.

Xi hoped the central committees of the other political parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and public figures without party affiliation could closely follow, in both thinking and action, the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee. He urged them to strengthen the sense of political responsibility and historical mission in cooperating with the CPC in solidarity and focus their ingenuity and energy on realizing the inspiring blueprint, goals and strategic deployments to be laid out at the upcoming 20th National Congress of the CPC. Adhering to the right political orientation, they should closely follow the CPC Central Committee in thinking, stance, and action, keep in mind the worst-case scenarios and champion the fighting spirit, said Xi. He urged them to play a bigger role in coordinating social relationships, defusing social tensions as well as maintaining social stability. He also asked them to enhance political transition that highlights political integrity and inheritance and make it more targeted and deliverable, and pass on the fine traditions of multi-party cooperation, namely, being of one heart and mind with the CPC, loving the country and serving the people, working closely together and dedicating to the common cause.

Ding Xuexiang, Wang Chen, Liu He, Xu Qiliang, Sun Chunlan, Yang Xiaodu, Chen Xi, Hu Chunhua, Guo Shengkun, Huang Kunming, You Quan, Wang Yi, Xiao Jie, Zhang Qingli, Xia Baolong, He Lifeng and other leading officials from the central departments attended the meeting.

Prominent non-CPC figures including Zheng Jianbang, Gu Shengzu, Liu Xincheng, He Wei, Shao Hong, Jiang Zuojun, Li Yuefeng, and Huang Yuguang were present.