BEIJING - The Jiu San Society, one of China's eight non-Communist political parties, opened its 10th national congress in Beijing on Friday.

The congress will hear and deliberate on a work report by the society's 12th central committee, discuss and approve a draft amendment to the Jiu San Society's Constitution, and elect the party's 13th central committee.

Li Keqiang, China's vice premier and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with delegates to the congress and delivered a congratulatory speech on behalf of the CPC Central Committee.

Li said in the speech that the Jiu San Society carried the fine tradition of promoting patriotism, democracy and science.

"It embarked on a historic road of working with the CPC side by side and standing together with the CPC regardless of situation, by pursuing democracy and promoting science, at the beginning of the society's formation," according to the vice premier.

During the last five years, China has courageously advanced along the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, stood the test of various difficulties and risks, won new victories in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and achieved major progress in the cause of a united front and multi-party cooperation under the CPC leadership, Li said.

He continued that the society brought to full play its own features and advantages and made contributions to socialist economic, political, cultural, social and ecological construction during the last five years.

The cause of building a moderately prosperous society and deepening reform and opening up in all respects needs concerted efforts of the Chinese people, including the united front members, Li said.

The CPC will unswervingly adhere to the political development road of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and the guiding principle of "long-term coexistence, mutual supervision, sincere treatment with each other and the sharing of weal and woe," ?he vowed.

It will strengthen cooperation with non-Communist parties and personages without party affiliation and further consolidate and develop "the most extensive patriotic united front," delegates of the Jiu San Society's congress were told.

Li said he hoped the society will lead its members to carry on its fine tradition, consolidate its ideological basis, deepen political transition and enhance self-improvement in order to make new contributions.

The vice premier also expressed hope that the society will bring its knowledge-intensive advantage to full play and offer advices accordingly.

Han Qide, executive chairman of the presidium of the Jiu San Society's 10th national congress, delivered a work report at the congress on behalf of the society's 12th central committee.

At the end of 1944, a number of progressive scholars organized the Forum on Democracy and Science, to strive for victory in the Anti-Japanese War and political democracy, and to develop the anti-imperialist and patriotic spirit of the May 4 Movement of 1919.

In commemoration of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and in the world anti-Fascist war, on September 3, 1945, it adopted the name Jiu San Society ("Jiu San" means September 3 in Chinese).

On May 4, 1946, the Jiu San Society was formally founded in Chongqing.

By the end of June this year, the society had set up more than 5,200 grass-roots organizations with more than 132,000 members. Most of the members are senior and leading intellectuals in the fields of science and technology.