The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held a symposium with non-CPC personages on Dec 3 in Beijing to solicit their opinions and suggestions on this year's economic situation and the economic work for 2026.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the symposium and delivered an important speech.

As the supporting conditions and basic trends for long-term positive development of China's economy have not changed, it is essential to remain confident, make a good use of existing advantages and meet challenges, continuously consolidate and expand the momentum of stable and positive development of the economy, and achieve a good start for implementing the 15th Five-Year Plan for national socioeconomic development in the 2026-2030 period, according to Xi.

Li Qiang, Cai Qi and Ding Xuexiang, all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, attended the symposium. Li briefed the symposium on this year's economic work and introduced considerations for next year's economic work.

Those who spoke at the symposium included Zheng Jianbang, chairman of the Central Committee of the Revolutionary Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang, Ding Zhongli, chairman of the Central Committee of the China Democratic League, Sun Dongsheng, vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the China National Democratic Construction Association, Cai Dafeng, chairman of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, He Wei, chairman of the Central Committee of the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, Jiang Zuojun, chairman of the Central Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party, Wu Weihua, chairman of the Central Committee of the Jiusan Society, Su Hui, chairperson of the Central Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League, Gao Yunlong, chairman of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), and Gao Hongjun, representative of personages without party affiliation.

They gave their opinions and suggestions on a number of issues, including optimizing the industrial layout, expanding domestic demand and high-standard opening up, enhancing people's health and well-being, and boosting high-quality employment.

After listening to their remarks attentively, Xi said that the CPC Central Committee will carefully study and absorb their opinions and suggestions.

Xi said that the CPC Central Committee has implemented more proactive and effective macro policies so far this year, and the main goals for economic and social development are expected to be accomplished.

As the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) is set to approach a successful conclusion, China's strengths in economy, science and technology, and comprehensive national strengths have been significantly enhanced, Xi said.

Noting that non-CPC personages had carried out in-depth research on key issues arising in economic and social development and provided important references for the CPC Central Committee's scientific decision-making, Xi expressed thanks to them on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.

Xi called for efforts to better coordinate domestic economic work and endeavors in the international financial and trade arena, implement more proactive and effective macro policies, continuously expand domestic demand, optimize the allocation of new resources while making best use of existing ones, foster new quality productive forces in line with local conditions, further advance the building of a unified national market, stabilize employment, enterprise operations, markets and expectations, and promote quality economic growth while achieving an appropriate increase in economic output.