Jia Qinglin was elected chairman of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) yesterday at the fourth plenary meeting of the 10th CPPCC's first session.

Zheng Wantong was elected secretary-general, while 24 vice-chairpersons and 299 Standing Committee members were also elected from an equal number of candidates by secret ballot.

Commenting on Jia's election as chairman, CPPCC member Xu Qixiong said he and his fellow members were impressed by the great changes, economic progress and construction in the capital, where Jia used to be secretary of the municipal Communist Party committee.

CPPCC member Gao Yingwei said: "The CPPCC has made progress each year in promoting democracy and national unity."

"The CPPCC is a big 'university' composed of numerous talented people in every field," Gao said. "It was capable of contributing more to the economy and the development of the country."

In yesterday's election, 20 people from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions were elected as leaders of the top advisory body.

Henry Ying Tung Fok and Ma Man-kei were re-elected as vice-chairmen of the CPPCC National Committee while the other 18 became members of the body's Standing Committee.

Sze Cheng-pang, a three-term member of the CPPCC National Committee from Hong Kong, said what impressed him most was the younger average age of the newly elected leadership.

"Compared with the past two terms, there are a larger number of members who are younger and more energetic and boast professional backgrounds," said Sze, adding that the higher-calibre entrants to the CPPCC National Committee leadership will greatly improve the top political advisory body's participation in State affairs.

Sze expressed his hope that the new leadership can better reflect the voice of the public on major economic and social issues.

(China Daily)