Wang Zhongwei, head of the Counsellors' Office of the State Council (COSC), delivers the welcome address at the open-day event in Beijing, capital of China, on Oct. 14, 2019. (Provided by the COSC)
The Counsellors' Office of the State Council (COSC) hosted an open-day event for the first time since its establishment in 1949.
About 150 people, including officials, scholars, diplomats and representatives of international organizations, as well as journalists from home and abroad, attended this event.
BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- An advisory body of China's central government has hosted an open-day event, shedding light on how its members fulfill their duties.
It is the first time the Counsellors' Office of the State Council (COSC) hosted an open-day event since its establishment in 1949.
The counsellors, who are well-known scholars in their own fields, are appointed directly by the Chinese premier. They shoulder many responsibilities, such as carrying out investigation and research and offering suggestions to the premier, focusing on the core work of the central government.
A total of 243 counsellors have received the appointments over the past 70 years.
"We came up with the idea of an open day to increase public knowledge of what we do here and encourage interactions," Wang Zhongwei, head of the COSC, said at the open-day event in Beijing on Monday.
"It offers people an opportunity to learn more about the COSC, which may have seemed mysterious to them," said Xia Bin, a COSC counsellor and senior financial strategist.
Wang said the counsellors are invited to attend or be present at key meetings of the State Council, the top legislature, and the top advisory body, while key officials from government ministries and commissions also frequent the office to exchange ideas on important issues.
"This reflects the importance our country has attached to scientific and democratic decision-making," he said.
Wang said the COSC has, in recent years, held many seminars and lectures with think-tanks, universities, research institutes to hear expert opinions from a broader scope.
"We have come up with a large number of insightful, more targeted and very practical policy suggestions," he said.
The Counsellors' Office of the State Council (COSC) and the China Central Institute for Culture and History (CCICH) host their first open day in Beijing, capital of China, on Oct. 14, 2019. (Provided by the COSC)
About 150 people, including officials, scholars, diplomats and representatives of international organizations, as well as journalists from home and abroad, attended Monday's event.
Marielza Oliveira, UNESCO Beijing Cluster Office Director, said: "It's a great opportunity for us to know more about the COSC. It's a very important office that has the task of collecting and organizing policy advice for the highest level in China."
Also open to the event participants was the China Central Institute for Culture and History (CCICH).
Set up in July 1951, the CCICH organizes cultural and historical studies, artistic creation and traditional Chinese culture promotion as well as puts forward suggestions on cultural development.
The premier has appointed a total of 313 people as researchers at the institute.
On Monday, 24 pieces of calligraphy and paintings by Chinese cultural celebrities, including Qi Baishi and Qi Gong were on display.
Oliveira said she is very interested in the Chinese culture and is very happy to be in the country, noting the deep progress China has made in education, culture and science.
The CCICH is running signature programs such as the Forum on Chinese Sinology and Chinese Culture in Action.
It continues to publish influential research on traditional Chinese culture, offer policy advice, and develop platforms such as the Master Class on Chinese Art, showcasing the beauty of Chinese art.
An Jiayao, a senior archaeologist noted for her studies on the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties, became a CCICH researcher in 2013.
"There are many great artists and researchers here, and we share in the endeavors to protect and promote China's fine traditional culture," said An. ■
