Full coverage: 2017 NPC & CPPCC Sessions

(Source: CGTN）

China’s top political advisors have begun their annual session. The members are drawn from various sectors of society. The Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, or CPPCC, embodies multi-party cooperation and political consultation, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. Development and the challenges it brings mean demands on members are growing, from both inside the body and the general public.

Yang Jia is the only visually impaired CPPCC member.

She wants to change China’s education for people with disabilities.

"I believe that through my own proposal, I think China will take on the path for inclusive education instead of special education, that’s also the outcry and the need for the people with disabilities. We need to have better teachers, we need to have assistive technology, and we need to revise our laws and policies, so this is what we can do as CPPCC members for how the government should function," she said.

Yang Jia believes there are no disabled people, but rather, crippled technology. For years, she has been advocating for the marginalized group of some 80 million people.

She says her role as a political advisor is to be a crusader for all Chinese with disabilities.

"We should think deeper, not just talk some of the problems but really put forward solutions which are workable. So, our proposals are more useful and practical," she said.

A key task for CPPCC members is the proposals through which they offer their expertise.

The 2000-plus advisors bring their influence to policies at their annual meeting. It’s seen as the best chance to make their voices heard.

Yang Jia says her mission is the march towards a more just society.

The CPPCC says it is well aware of public calls to improve its work, and is determined to channel the real concerns of people’s lives and livelihoods.

"Some research activities and proposals are not deep enough; timeliness is not strong. The democratic supervision work needs to be standardized. Some members do not exercise their functions well; the CPPCC’s capacity building needs to be further strengthened. Some of the implementation of its function is not in place," said Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of CPPCC National Committee.

The advisors are chosen by recommendation.

Many say there should be professional standards for membership.