At a seminar held by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on July 21, CPPCC members shared thoughts on issues related to population, resources and environment, which are to be addressed in China's upcoming 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development.

The event was attended by Li Bin, vice-chairperson and secretary-general of the CPPCC National Committee, and He Wei, also a vice-chairperson of the CPPCC National Committee and executive vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party.

Li Bin delivers a speech at the seminar. [Photo/cppcc.gov.cn]

During the seminar, members of the CPPCC National Committee, experts and representatives of other political parties and people's organizations put forward suggestions on population-related issues such as child bearing, fertility health, employment and the aging population.

They then shifted their discussion to issues pertaining to resources and the environment which included energy security, protection and development of marine resources, water safety, building of environmentally-friendly projects, garbage classification and the circular economy.

In her speech, Li pointed out that this year is not only the final year of the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020) but also a critical year in formulating the 14th plan. She called for deeper and more detailed study of the 14th plan in order to provide references for relevant agencies.

He in his remarks called for the adoption of a correct attitude toward issues like the aging population and low fertility in the 14th Five-Year Plan, suggesting that the compatibility between the total number, structure and quality of the Chinese population and the country's economic and social development should be considered based on domestic and foreign situations. 

He Wei addresses the seminar. [Photo/cppcc.gov.cn]

He advocated the full utilization of the aging population as a major supplement to China's workforce and the accelerated development of the elderly-related industries.

As for issues on resources and the environment, He called for making green development an important characteristic of China's modernization process during the period covered by the 14th plan.