Meng Man, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), is interviewed ahead of the opening of the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

Promoting nationwide reading has positive implications for both individual progress and national development, said Meng Man, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, in Beijing on Saturday.

"The more scientific and technological progress we make, the more we should value reading, for reading not only enhances our knowledge, but also helps us experience the beauty of nature and make moral judgments," Meng said before the opening of the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee.

Meng, also a professor from Minzu University of China, said that Chinese culture has favorable traditions in emphasizing reading and passing down knowledge, and now China has been vigorously promoting nationwide reading with people having an increasing abundance of reading material.

Based on these backgrounds, Meng encourages people to read more, discuss with other readers and join themed reading events. In the hopes that together, people can form an atmosphere with a love of reading, reading good books and gaining knowledge through reading.

"The spirit of our Chinese people will be enriched, and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation will have stronger foundation and greater momentum," Meng added.

Promoting reading has also been an endeavor of the CPPCC in recent years, according to Guo Weimin, spokesperson for the first session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, who spoke at a press conference on Friday.

"Since April 2020, the National Committee launched its reading project and hosted 10 series' of reading events, establishing 147 reading groups," Guo said. These reading groups highlight wide-ranging and up-to-date topics, such as economic development, ecology and digital economy.

Guo said that an increasing number of CPPCC National Committee members have been participating in these reading events, now having reached 98 percent and covering CPPCC's all 34 sectors.