BEIJING -- The Communist Party of China Central Committee held a symposium at Zhongnanhai in Beijing on July 23 to solicit opinions and suggestions from chairpersons of the central committees of non-CPC political parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, as well as representatives of personages without party affiliation, on the country's current economic situation and economic work for the second half of the year.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the symposium and delivered an important speech. He stressed that to do a good job in economic work in the second half, it is necessary to adhere to the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, fully and faithfully apply the new development philosophy on all fronts, and move faster to create a new pattern of development. He urged efforts to maintain policy continuity and stability while enhancing flexibility and foresight, keep employment, businesses, markets and expectations stable, effectively bolster consumption, break free from "rat race" competition, facilitate domestic economic circulation, and promote the positive interplay between domestic and international economic flows, so that the annual objectives and targets for economic and social development can be accomplished to bring the 14th Five-Year Plan to a successful conclusion.

Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi and Ding Xuexiang, who are members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the symposium. Entrusted by the CPC Central Committee, Li Qiang briefed the symposium on the economic work in the first half of this year and outlined plans for economic work in the second half.

Those who spoke at the symposium were Zheng Jianbang, chairperson of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang; Ding Zhongli, 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; He Wei, chairperson of the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party; Jiang Zuojun, chairperson of the Central Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party; Wu Weihua, chairperson of the Central Committee of the Jiusan Society; Su Hui, chairperson of the Central Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League; Gao Yunlong, chairperson of the ACFIC; and Sun Qixin, a representative of personages without party affiliation. They fully agreed with the CPC Central Committee's analysis and judgement on the current economic situation and its planning and considerations about the economic work in the second half of the year. They put forward opinions and suggestions on a number of issues, including promoting inter-regional collaboration on sci-tech and industrial innovation, facilitating the integrated development of culture, sports, tourism and business sectors, boosting consumption in services sector, making forward-looking planning for future industries, speeding up the establishment of a unified national data market, advancing high-quality urban renewal, further stimulating the vitality of private enterprises, as well as improving social security for people in flexible employment.

After listening to their remarks attentively, Xi said that in the first half of this year, under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, all regions and departments had actively responded to challenges and accelerated the implementation of more proactive and effective macro policies. As a result, China achieved steady progress in economy while maintaining overall social stability, demonstrating its solid economic foundation, multiple advantages, strong resilience, great potential, and continuous accumulation of positive factors supporting high-quality development.

At present, China's economic operation still faces many risks and challenges, Xi said, stressing the need to accurately assess the situation, stay vigilant against potential dangers, be prepared for worst-case scenarios, make full use of development opportunities, potential and advantages, as well as consolidate and expand the momentum of economic recovery. In the second half of the year, macro policies should maintain their strength and be intensified when necessary, Xi said, emphasizing efforts to expand domestic demand on all fronts, resolutely deepen reform and opening up, promote the in-depth integration and development of sci-tech and industrial innovation, continue to prevent and defuse risks in key sectors, and take multiple measures to ensure and improve people's well-being.

Xi pointed out that in the first half of the year, the central committees of the non-CPC political parties, the ACFIC and personages without party affiliation had aligned their thinking with the CPC Central Committee's major decisions and arrangements, carried out in-depth research with a focus on key and difficult issues arising in economic and social development, offered suggestions and proposals, and actively conducted democratic oversight, demonstrating their sense of political responsibilities and readiness to get down to work for solidarity and cooperation under the leadership of the CPC. Xi expressed heartfelt thanks to all on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.

Xi put forward two-point expectations for the non-CPC political parties, the ACFIC, and personages without party affiliation. First, they should forge broad consensus in thinking. They should gain a keen understanding of the CPC Central Committee's analysis and assessment of the current economic situation, along with its guiding principles, key policies and major decisions on economic work. They should intensify efforts to explain policies, dispel concerns and doubts, address public sentiments and foster consensus, thereby generating strong, positive momentum for united efforts for progress. Second, they should leverage their unique advantages to promote high-quality development. This involves selecting investigation and study topics relevant to fulfilling their duties, making coordinated and effective use of various resources and think tanks, and offering more forward-looking, practical opinions and suggestions. The ACFIC, in particular, should guide those engaged in the private economy to stay focused on their core businesses, strengthen the real economy, and remain firmly committed to the path of high-quality development.

Liu Guozhong, Li Ganjie, He Lifeng, Zhang Guoqing, Wu Zhenglong, and leading officials of relevant departments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council attended the symposium.

Other non-CPC personages present at the symposium included Shao Hong, He Baoxiang, Wang Guangqian, Qin Boyong, Zhu Yongxin, Yang Zhen, Zhang Endi, Fang Guanghua, and Zhou Li'an, among others.