The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a key element of China’s political system, convened its annual session in Beijing in March 2025, marking a significant moment in the nation’s political calendar. This gathering, alongside the concurrent National People’s Congress (NPC) session, collectively known as the “two sessions,” serves as a platform for reviewing past achievements and setting the agenda for the coming year. The 2025 session held particular importance as the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), emphasizing the need for effective implementation of the remaining objectives and laying the groundwork for the subsequent five-year plan.
The CPPCC, while not a legislative body like the NPC, plays a crucial consultative role in China’s political structure. It acts as a platform for diverse voices and perspectives to contribute to national policy formulation. Its members, drawn from various sectors of society, offer expert advice on a wide range of issues spanning economic, political, social, cultural, and ecological domains. This collaborative approach underscores the CPPCC’s importance in China’s pursuit of “whole-process people’s democracy,” a concept emphasizing broad participation in the political process.
The 2025 CPPCC session, presided over by Chairman Wang Huning, focused on solidifying the achievements of 2024, a year marked by the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. Wang Huning emphasized the importance of a holistic and systematic approach to policy implementation, reflecting the leadership’s commitment to comprehensive national development. He also highlighted the CPPCC’s role in providing insightful and practical suggestions to facilitate sound decision-making and effective policy implementation.
A key focus of the 2025 session was the effective implementation of the CPPCC’s consultation plan, approved by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). This plan outlines the CPPCC’s agenda for contributing to national development through in-depth consultations and deliberations. The CPPCC pledged to offer targeted and forward-looking advice to ensure the successful completion of the 14th Five-Year Plan and to inform the development of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).
The CPPCC also reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging its consultative oversight function to promote the implementation of major decisions and plans made by the CPC Central Committee. This underscores the close relationship between the CPPCC and the CPC, with the CPPCC playing a vital role in supporting the Party’s leadership in national governance. The CPPCC pledged to actively contribute to the advancement of Chinese modernization, a core objective of the CPC’s long-term vision for the country.
Furthermore, the CPPCC committed to conducting extensive research and fact-finding activities on major strategic issues related to national economic and social development. This research aims to provide informed and well-considered advice to the CPC Central Committee, particularly in the formulation of the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan. This highlights the CPPCC’s ongoing contribution to long-term national planning and its commitment to offering practical solutions to the challenges facing China. The session also highlighted the importance of international collaboration, specifically mentioning the benefits for the African continent stemming from the 2025 consultative plan, signifying China’s growing global engagement and its commitment to partnerships with developing nations.
