Last week, the annual session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opened in Beijing. Radio86 interviewed Mr. Huang Youyi, one of the delegates to the CPPCC and learned more about China's top political advisory body.

What is your role in CPPCC?

I'm one of the 2000 members of the CPPCC, and we have a term of five years. Every year, there's the annual conference, which is always in early March, lasting anywhere from 10 to 14 days. But throughout the year there are many other conferences, meetings. Although the whole conference is not in session apart from March, we have all kinds of activities, because we are members of different subcommittees. For example, I'm on the foreign relations subcommittee. This committee has about 100 members and so there are other activities I also take part in.

Could you give us a short background about the CPPCC?

CPPCC's 60-year history can be divided into two periods. One is the first five years from 1949 to 1954. At the time, China had no national people's congress, which is the parliament. So, during the first five years, CPPCC functioned as China's parliament. For example, it adopted the common program which was the first constitution of the People's Republic of China. It adopted the national flag, the national anthem.

After that, the real parliament was elected. That's the National People's Congress. Since then, CPPCC has become a political consulting body, which is very unique to China, and it's very difficult to find an equivalent in the West. On the other hand, it's not just a talk shop; it does have a lot of influence in the country's political system.

For example, the CPPCC has nine committees. One of these is the motion committee. This committee is very powerful, because it collects motions from the members throughout the year, not only during the big session in March. You can always prepare and submit your motions and motions can cover anything. One member can put out a motion or you can have 300, for example, all sign the same motion.

The motion committee usually takes in all motions. They really don't have a reason to reject any motions. And they have to see the motion through its different stages. If it's about foreign relations, the motion will be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If it's about poverty relief, it goes to the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

And then the ministry evaluates the motion. They have to study the motion. Is the proposal workable? If it is, they have to take measures; if not, they have to explain why it's not workable. And then the explanation will go back to the people who first put out the motions. So it's a big circle.

Where do we come up with the motions? CPPCC members come from all walks of life. Members come from 34 fields – the different political parties, social organisations, associations, economy, agricultury industry, education... So the representatives get a lot of opinions from the grassroots. That's how we see ourselves – as representatives of the grassroots' opinions. And we, through motions, let government agencies hear these opinions.

How does this political consultation system work?

Apart from filing motions, which is the most important way of being consulted, members of CPPCC hold meetings with government officials. First, opinions are collected from CPPCC members which are then passed on to government officials. Then they come and report on financial, foreign or economic policies. They know they have to make a very convincing report because we are scrutinizing their every word.

CPPCC members also write reports that are sent directly to the government throughout the year. We hold seminars among scholars and publicize their opinions in the newspapers, radio and television. We are trying to help the public become more aware f their role while at the same time telling the central government that they should pay attention to some big topics.

How are members of the CPPCC elected?

The Great Hall of the People in Beijing functions as China's parliament building. (Image: Radio86)It's a very unique Chinese system. Members are not elected, they are selected, I think, for a period of five years. When members reach their fourth year, the CPPCC asks different institutions, including ministries and NGOs to suggest members for the next term. These names are submitted to CPPCC.

But in this particular institution, China International Publishing Group, I was proposed and I got most of the votes many years ago. So, I was nominated but then in the end, just before the last session began, I realized that it's not me, but it's my boss who was selected. I think it was the right decision, because he could better represent our interests. There are votes, but it doesn't mean that the one with the most votes gets picked.

The selection process really focus on broad representation – there should be men, women, different age groups, from different cultures and fields. I was picked three years ago because they realized China needs translators. It's a growing industry, and there should be somebody from the translation business industry to sit on CPPCC.

Seven years ago, even though I got the most votes, I was not picked because they didn't want anybody to represent the translation industry. They picked my boss because they wanted somebody to represent the publishing side.

This is different from how members of the NPC are chosen. There are three levels in the NPC – county or district level, the provincial level and the national level. We hold elections at the county or district level, selecting candidates based on their achievements and credentials. We have the right to choose the county level NPC delegate. These NPC members elect delegates to the next level. Provincial level NPC members are the ones who elect delegates to the national level. That's how it works in the NPC.

How does being a member of the CPPCC affect your daily life?

The only difference is that I have less time at my own disposal. I have less time to watch television, less time to take a walk in the park. You know, being a member of the CPPCC is voluntary, it's not paid. But you feel you're making a contribution to society. And you get hooked. So your mind is on this thing all the time. But the reward is, you're helping people, making some difference.