BEIJING, Nov. 24 -- Outstanding personnel outside of the Communist Party of China (CPC) should play a bigger role in maintaining social stability and building a well-off society, said a top political advisor on Tuesday.

The united front work manages relations between the CPC and non-Party people, including individuals and those in organizations with social, commercial or academic influence, or representatives of important groups, in order to ensure that they support the CPC and national development.

Delegates of the national conference were told by Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, that the united front work in universities is important as non-CPC academics could push for reform and development, and maintain social stability.

More opportunities should be provided to non-CPC personnel, Yu said, adding that they should be encouraged to engage more with national development and innovation strategies.

Sun Chunlan, head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, said ethnic minority teacher and student exchange should be promoted, religion should be separated from the education system, and students from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan as well as overseas Chinese should enhance their Chinese identity.