Committees of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the city and county levels play a crucial role in helping to modernize the system and capacity for grassroots governance, said Zhang Qingli, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee. 

Zhang made the statement at a symposium in Zunyi city, a former revolutionary base of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Guizhou province, on Dec 2. The meeting focused on  tackling two challenges faced by local CPPCC committees - a shortage of manpower and firm footing to carry out their work. 

Zhang said that CPPCC committees in cities and counties should be flexible and pragmatic in organizing consultations of various sorts, focus on the key concerns and difficulties affecting people’s lives and social governance, and assist the government in addressing various issues.  

The national and provincial committees of the CPPCC also need to explore new ways, strengthen guidance, and improve their organizational work to be more goal-orientated, and convert the CPPCC’s institutional strength into the efficacy of State governance, said Zhang.