Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, presides over the 49th biweekly consultative meeting of the 14th CPPCC National Committee in Beijing on Sept 4, 2026. [Photo by Jia Ning/CPPCC Daily]

The 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held its 49th biweekly consultative meeting in Beijing on Sept 4, focusing on developing a system of Chinese cultural symbols.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, presided over the meeting.

Wang said that since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC Central Committee has placed cultural development in a prominent position in national governance, developing advanced socialist culture, promoting revolutionary culture, and carrying forward fine traditional Chinese culture. These efforts have led to historic achievements in cultural development, strengthened the sense of identity with Chinese culture and cultural confidence among people of all ethnic groups, and further highlighted Chinese spirit, values and strength.

He called on CPPCC members to implement the relevant decisions and plans of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), and conduct further research and offer suggestions on collecting and refining the defining symbols and best elements of Chinese culture and showcasing them to the world.

Wang noted that Chinese civilization is a great civilization with a long history and profound depth and developing a system of Chinese cultural symbols is of major significance to strengthening cultural confidence and the identity of the Chinese culture.

He urged CPPCC members to focus on key issues, including deepening theoretical research on the system, accelerating its development and improvement, strengthening education and public communication, and pooling efforts to advance the initiative. CPPCC members should reflect public concerns and offer suggestions through surveys and inspections, reports on social conditions and public opinions, and proposals, he said.

He also encouraged experts and scholars among CPPCC members to leverage their professional expertise to make greater contributions to the development of the system.

Eleven CPPCC National Committee members spoke at the meeting. They called for deeper research into the system of Chinese cultural symbols and a better understanding of its rich connotations and contemporary significance. They suggested drawing on cultural and natural heritage to develop more distinctive and recognizable symbols of Chinese civilization.

They also called for improving the protection and use of such symbols, strengthening the systematic conservation and unified management of cultural heritage, and better preserving valuable cultural heritage. They stressed the need to strengthen public communication, further explain the distinctive features of Chinese civilization, promote the national spirit, and help Chinese cultural symbols reach a wider audience and gain deeper public recognition.

Vice-chairpersons of the CPPCC National Committee Hu Chunhua, Shao Hong, Jiang Xinzhi, Jiang Zuojun and He Baoxiang attended the meeting. Officials from the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, the National Ethnic Affairs Commission, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the National Cultural Heritage Administration briefed the meeting participants on relevant matters and held consultations with CPPCC members.