A symposium was held on June 5 in Suining, Sichuan province, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the cooperation between the China Democratic League (CDL) and the city. Wang Guangqian, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and executive vice-chairman of the CDL Central Committee, attended and addressed the gathering.

Wang said that over the past four decades, successive generations of CDL members have worked tirelessly to contribute to Suining's economic and social development. Situated at a pivotal juncture between the Chengdu and Chongqing, Suining enjoys distinct geographic advantages and immense growth potential. The outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) explicitly calls for elevating the development capacity of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle and building it into a key engine of high-quality growth. These new goals and opportunities not only inject fresh momentum into Suining's development but also provide a broad platform for the CDL to better fulfill its political responsibilities.

Wang emphasized that four decades of practice have unequivocally demonstrated that upholding the leadership of the Communist Party of China is the cornerstone of the CDL-Suining cooperation. He urged participants to remain true to the original aspiration of this partnership, maintain a high degree of political awareness and fully grasp the profound political significance of the cooperation from the perspective of upholding, developing and refining China's new type of political party system.

Every cooperative initiative and practical undertaking must be treated as a concrete measure to honor the CDL's founding mission and perform its duties, he said, adding that the league must handle such tasks with both dedication and sincerity to deliver tangible results.

The vitality of the CDL-Suining cooperation lies in staying grounded in reality, serving development and delivering pragmatic outcomes, Wang said. He called for adherence to this proven principle by scientifically planning cooperative projects and ensuring effective implementation to enhance the quality and impact of the partnership.

Efforts should also be made to expand cooperation scenarios and drive innovation by strengthening platforms for think tank exchanges, industrial collaboration, talent cultivation, the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements as well as public welfare support, so as to consolidate and extend the gains of the cooperation, Wang said.

Furthermore, he stressed that a broad-based consultative framework should be established to align with the 15th Five-Year Plan and the development strategy of the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle. By taking a holistic view and focusing on the entire region, the CDL should explore viable pathways for high-quality development in the hilly areas of Southwest China, offering well-grounded, actionable policy recommendations to support Suining’s advancement from a higher strategic perspective and with greater depth, Wang said.