Special Report: NPC, CPPCC Annual Sessions 2008

    By Xinhua Writers Ji Shaoting, Li Huaiyan and Wang Pan

    BEIJING, March. 4 (Xinhua) -- Netizens are proffering numerous questions and advice for Premier Wen Jiabao with the start of the new sessions of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing.

    "How does ordinary people like me afford expensive housing?" one asked. "What are the policies on education for migrant workers' children?" said another. These were just a few of the questions covering various aspects of people's livelihood on various websites which feature public opinion forums on the two sessions.

    As of Tuesday, about 300,000 questions and offers of advice were listed on Xinhuanet.com, the portal of the official Xinhua News Agency. Over 1.5 million netizens had posted messages.

    Unlike the detailed proposals by the CPPCC and NPC delegates, most online messages, both long and short, were frank, to the point and complimented the official proposals in many cases.

    One netizen invited Wen to rethink the measures taken by the government in the recent snow disaster, some of which worked successfully while others needed modification.

    "I wonder if Premier Wen can provide pension for peasant workers above 65 years old," wrote a netizen. "We only need one yuan (about 14 U.S. cents) for one meal, which is 90 yuan a month, to be happy in our later years."

    On the People's Daily website Wen was invited by one netizen to listen to the real thoughts of the public. Compared to other mediums, the Internet was more comprehensive and more sincere for communication, the posting said.

    Several years ago, Xinhuanet featured an "Ask the premier" forum. Each year the topics heated up as the public's sense of being masters of their own country rose, said Bai Lin, the portal's vice president and deputy editor-in-chief.

    "The hit rate increased sharply during the questioning periods in recent years."

    On the China Central Television (CCTV) website, netizens were being encouraged question the government about policies affecting their livelihood.