11th NPC Standing Committee convenes 1st meeting

BEIJING—The Standing Committee of the 11th National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature, held its first meeting here on Wednesday.
Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the meeting. Wu, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the next five years entered a pivotal period for building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects. Thus the 11th NPC and its Standing Committee were supposed to fully implement the guiding principles of the 17th CPC National Congress held last October, hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and uphold the Party’s leadership, according to Wu.
The 11th NPC and its Standing Committee should adhere to and further improve the NPC system, fully implement the basic strategy of ruling the country by law, and safeguard the fundamental interests of the people, he said.
Wu urged the Standing Committee and all special committees of the NPC to work diligently for the country and the people, and follow the right political direction while fulfilling their jobs. China’s adoption of the NPC system was a natural outcome, he told the meeting, asking the participants to fully understand the true nature of the system, and steadfastly keep its unique characteristics.
Wu asked them to uplift the work of the NPC to a new level, and ensure a legal system with Chinese characteristics to be set up by 2010 while improving the quality of legislation. He also urged the Standing Committee to better equip themselves with political theories and laws, familiarize themselves with the regulations and procedures of NPC work, and improve their working style to better fulfill their roles.
At the meeting, Wang Wanbin, Qiao Xiaoyang, Zhang Shaoqin, Cao Weizhou, Wang Qingxi, Li Lianning, He Yehui, Sun Wei and Liu Zhenwei were appointed deputy secretaries-general of the NPC Standing Committee. The two-week First Session of the 11th National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature, closed here Tuesday morning after endorsing a new leadership of the country.
Nearly 3,000 deputies throughout the country attended the annual parliament session during March 5-18. They endorsed the report of government work delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao, along with other important reports, and set forth the major tasks and work plans for this year and the five years to come. They also endorsed the new leadership of the country, with Hu Jintao reelected state president, Wu Bangguo reelected chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, and Wen Jiabao reappointed premier of the State Council, or cabinet.
A new NPC Standing Committee and line-up of ministers of the State Council were also approved at the session. President Hu spoke at the closing meeting and promised clean governance and appropriate use of power to serve the people wholeheartedly.
“I will serve the people and exert myself to work for the country... be a good public servant and sincerely seek benefits for the people,” said the president. He expressed thanks for the NPC deputies and the entire nation for their trust, saying he would lead the country to advance democracy and rule of law, put people first and work in a practical manner.
“I will exert my utmost not to let you down,” he added. China’s new leadership, he said, will unswervingly maintain the uniformity, solemnity and authority of the socialist legal system, promote social equity and justice, and safeguard social harmony and stability. “We will keep to the principle of ‘putting people first,’ respect the people’s status, exert their pioneering spirit and safeguard their rights and interests,” he said.
Hu said the new leadership will keep working in a practical manner, free their minds, seek truth from facts and keep up with the pace of the times.

—Xinhua