The first session of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) started its fourth plenary meeting here Monday afternoon, at which new leadership for the top advisory body is due to be elected.

The leadership will include chairman, vice-chairpersons, secretary-general and Standing Committee members.

The CPPCC is a patriotic united front organization of the Chinese people, serving as a key mechanism for multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and a major symbol of socialist democracy.

The CPPCC consists of representatives of the CPC and non-Communist parties, personages without party affiliation, and representatives of people's organizations, ethnic minorities and various social strata.

It also has the representation of compatriots of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, returned overseas Chinese, and specially invited people.