BEIJING: The Third Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's top political advisory body, opened in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing ,capital of China,March 3,2010 [Xinhua].

CPPCC National Committee Chairman Jia Qinglin delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of the CPPCC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 3, 2010.[Xinhua]

More than 2,000 CPPCC National Committee members, from across the country, will discuss major issues concerning the nation's development during the annual meeting scheduled to conclude on March 13.

After the session started at 3 p.m., CPPCC National Committee Chairman Jia Qinglin delivered a report on the work of the CPPCC National Committee's Standing Committee over the past year.

"The CPPCC (last year)...made important contributions to effectively responding to the impact of the global financial crisis, pushing forward the process of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and promoting the great cause of peaceful reunification of the motherland," Jia said.

"The CPPCC's cause entered a period of unity, harmony, pragmatic progress and vigorous development," he said.

Top Communist Party of China (CPC) and state leaders Hu Jintao, Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang were present at the opening meeting.

Founded in 1949, the CPPCC consists of elite members of the Chinese society who are willing to serve the think tank for the government and for the country's legislative and judicial organs.

As an open forum where the ruling CPC, non-Communist parties and people without party affiliation discuss state affairs freely and on an equal footing, the CPPCC has been the manifestation of China's socialist democracy.

Wang Gang, vice-chairman of 11th CPPCC National Committee, delivers a speech during the opening ceremony of CPPCC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 3, 2010.[Xinhua]

CPPCC members from all parts of China attend the Third Session of the 11th National Committee ofCPPCC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 3, 2010. [Xinhua]

CPPCC members sing the National Anthem together during the opening ceremony of CPPCC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 3, 2010.[Xinhua]

CPPCC members from all parts of China attend the Third Session of the 11th National Committee ofCPPCC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 3, 2010. [Xinhua] 

CPPCC members listen to a speech during theThird Session of the 11th National Committee ofCPPCC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 3, 2010. [Xinhua]

A military band plays the National Anthem during theThird Session of the 11th National Committee ofCPPCC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing March 3, 2010. [Xinhua]