One minute of silence was observed at the opening ceremony of the 3rd session of 13th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee on Thursday afternoon, as a mark of tribute to victims of the COVID-19 and those who sacrificed their lives in the fight against the epidemic.

Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders mourned for lives lost to COVID-19 as the country’s top political advisory body began its annual session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday.

They joined members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference to pay a silent tribute to martyrs who died fighting COVID-19 and compatriots who lost their lives in the epidemic.

The minute of silence was proposed on February 19 by Feng Danlong, a member of the CPPCC National Committee, through the CPPCC’s online proposal system. She received a reply from the office of the national committee for proposals one day after she handed it in, saying it had been accepted.

Feng told the Workers’ Daily recently that at 142 words, it was the shortest proposal she has submitted since becoming a member of the CPPCC National Committee, and received the fastest reply, she said.

The proposal to observe one minute of silence not only shows people’s respect for life, but also illustrates that the CPPCC office is seeking truth from facts in the process of receiving members’ proposals and finding innovative ways to perform its duties, Feng said, noting that the online proposal system has provided a convenient channel for political participation.

Millions of netizens also expressed their tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in fighting the epidemic, leaving candles and mourning remarks on Sina Weibo on Thursday.

Previously, China’s top advisory body paid a silent tribute to the victims of the March 1 terrorist attack in the Southwestern city of Kunming at the opening of the second session of the 12th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 3, 2014