I. Brief Introduction
The Counselors' Office of the State Council is a united front and consultative organization directly under the State Council. Its major functions include: organizing the counselors of the State Council to carry out research and investigations on the main work of the Communist Party of China and the government, as well as on hot and difficult issues of concern to the people; making suggestions to leading officials of the State Council; playing a role in administration in accordance with the law and in the government’s democratic and scientific decision-making; suggesting amendments to important drafts of state laws, regulations and documents; maintaining intimate contact with all sectors of society and reflecting the social situation and public opinion; participating in patriotic united front work; and guiding the work of counselors’ offices of local governments.
Counselors of the State Council are appointed by the premier. The majority of the candidates are non-Party experts, scholars and public figures who have great influence in China and a strong ability to participate in and deliberate state affairs. The basic responsibilities of counselors are: participating in and commenting on state affairs, offering advice, proposals and consultation on important matters of state, engaging in united front work, and promoting friendship.
The office was established in November 1949. Its establishment was a pioneering effort in the establishment of government and democracy in New China. It united a great number of virtuous, talented and prestigious non-Party experts, scholars and public figures around the Party, and it fully represented the policy of respecting knowledge and talent.
In the past 50 years, especially since China's reform and opening up to the outside world, counselors contributed many correct and profound insights based on their in-depth research and investigations that became critical references for the government’s decision-making process, and they played an important part in stabilizing the united front and promoting the reunification of China.
The Party Central Committee and the State Council have always paid great attention to counseling work, and they promulgated a series of documents to strengthen it. Leading officials of the CPC and the country visited the office many times to assign it tasks and give timely official replies to investigative reports and suggestions made by the counselors, as a result of which its consulting and participating role was fully utilized.
After 50 years’ of practice and development, counseling work has become an important force in the intellectual support system of the government’s decision-making, a key channel for the government to learn about the social situation and public opinion, and an essential reflection of the government’s united front policy.
The Central Research Institute of Culture and History is an honorary united front research institute, which shares offices with the Counselors’ Office and operates under the leadership of the office’s Leading Party Group. Its main functions include: supporting and organizing literature and history research, and calligraphy and painting activities; participating in the patriotic united front; maintaining contact with literature and history research organizations nationwide and doing research on general and policy issues in their research; and exchanging working experiences.
The Central Research Institute of Culture and History was established in July 1951 under the initiative of Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai’s generation of revolutionaries, and its members are mostly prestigious scholars, artists and eminent persons. The director, deputy director and institute members are all appointed by the premier.
Altogether, 230 scholars, artists and public figures have been appointed members of the institute, including Ye Gongchuo, Liu Yazi, Chen Yinque, Shen Yinmo, Qi Baishi, Chen Banding, Zhu Qiqian, Xiao Longyou, Zhang Boju, and Zhang Henshui. Fu Dingyi, Zhang Shizhao, Yang Dongchun, Ye Shengtao, Xiao Qian, and Qi Gong have by turns been director of the institute. The fact that these prominent and prestigious learned scholars were invited to the institute is an embodiment of the Party’s policy of respecting the aged and culture and honoring talent and virtue, and has a very positive effect on society.
The Central Research Institute of Culture and History actively carries out literature and history research, edits histories and chronicles, creates scholarly and artistic works, and initiates and organizes many cultural exchange activities at home and abroad. It also makes a great contribution to preserving traditional culture by publishing a large number of literature and history materials and books and holding numerous national calligraphy and painting exhibitions.
The institutions within the Counselors' Office include: the General Office, Counseling Department, Literature and History Department, and the Party Committee.
Major Functions
II. Current Leaders
Director: Cui Zhanfu
Deputy Directors: Jiang Minglin Chen Heliang Zhang Zhannong
Notice: The English version of www.counsellor.gov.cn is under construction.
