Special Report: NPC, CPPCC Annual Sessions 2008　

    BEIJING, March 10 -- Party leaders have joined discussions with NPC deputies from around the country. They addressed a wide range of topics on Sunday, from agriculture to people's livelihood, and from economic reform to cultural development.

    Party General Secretary Hu Jintao joined in the discussions with the NPC deputies from east China's Shandong Province. Hu stressed the main tasks facing the country, including changing the mode of economic development, continuing the modernization of agriculture and development of rural areas.

    He said it's also important to carry forward the spirit of patriotism and socialism to build a socialist society with Chinese characteristics.

    Wu Bangguo joined discussions with the Fujian delegation. He said to carry out the NPC standing committee's work, the top legislature should adhere to socialist political development with Chinese characteristics to ensure the basic interests of people, and to carry out work within the judicial procedure.

    Wen Jiabao talked to deputies from northeast China's Jilin Province. He called for the development of technical industries like large equipment production. Wen Jiabao stressed the revival of the region will require resource efficiency, eco-friendly construction and environmental protection.

    Li Changchun joined discussions with deputies from southwest China's Yunnan Province. Cultural development tops Li's concern and he said innovation is needed for the prosperity of Chinese culture.

    He hopes new ideas, technologies and production methods will be adopted to deepen reforms in the cultural industry to raise the global influence and competitiveness of Chinese culture.

    In his meeting with deputies from northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Xi Jinping said he hopes the region continues enhancing its work on technological research and education. Xi also encouraged the province to be innovative in party construction.

    Li Keqing discussed issues with deputies from southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. He said balanced development between urban and rural areas is a key factor in China's modernization. He hopes the region find its way to realize industrialization, urbanization and the modernization of agriculture.

    (Source: CCTV.com)

Related: President Hu stresses stable food prices, supply of farm produce

Chinese President Hu Jintao (3rd R) meets with deputies to the First Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from east China's Shandong Province in Beijing, capital of China, March 9, 2008. Hu Jintao joined in the panel discussion of Shandong delegation on Sunday during the First Session of the 11th NPC.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao urged local governments to ensure stable food prices and supply of major farm produce on Sunday.

    Hu's remarks came after the country's consumer price index (CPI) scored 4.8 percent last year and an 11-year-high of 7.1 percent in January this year, triggering inflation fears.

    "We must ensure stable production and prices of 'vegetable basket' products (nonstaple food) for urban and rural consumers," Hu said, speaking at a panel discussion of the delegation of Shandong Province at the ongoing annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliament.

    The president also accentuated the significance of changing the modes of economic development to promote a sound and rapid development.

    Senior leaders including Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang also joined panel discussions of different delegations on Saturday.

    Top legislator Wu Bangguo, while talking with lawmakers from the Fujian Province delegation who were deliberating his Saturday's work report of the 10th NPC Standing Committee, pledged to make greater efforts to improve the committee's work with the oversight of NPC deputies.

Wu Bangguo (L front), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, listens as a deputy to the First Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from southeast China's Fujian Province sings a song for him in Beijing, capital of China, March 9, 2008. Wu Bangguo joined in the panel discussion of Fujian delegation on Sunday during the First Session of the 11th NPC.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "We must hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, unswervingly pursue the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics... in a bid to uphold and improve the system of people's congresses and do a good job in this regard under new circumstances," Wu said.

    Premier Wen Jiabao, who joined deputies from the northeastern Jilin Province, said northeast China should fully exploit its advantages to boost the manufacturing sector, particularly the production of heavy equipment.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd R) meets with deputies to the First Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from northeast China's Jilin Province in Beijing, capital of China, March 9, 2008. Wen Jiabao joined in the panel discussion of Jilin delegation on Sunday during the First Session of the 11th NPC.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Rejuvenation of the old industrial base is not a short-term mission, Wen said. "Our ultimate goal is to achieve sustainable development, which demands energy conservation, ecological recovery and environmental protection."

    He said Jilin Province, which boasts rich natural and ecological resources, should take the lead in environmental protection by preserving well the resources and ecology of the Changbai Mountains, stepping up pollution control along the Songhua River and protecting its soil, forests, grassland, wild animals and wetlands. "All these are valuable assets of Jilin, and advantages for its development."

    Joining the Yunnan delegation to deliberate the NPC Standing Committee work report, Li Changchun exchanged ideas with the deputies on how to build democracy, boost education in the border regions inhabited by ethnic minorities, and foster the cultural industry in rural areas.

Li Changchun (R front), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with deputies to the First Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from southwest China's Yunnan Province in Beijing, capital of China, March 9, 2008. Li Changchun joined in the panel discussion of Yunnan delegation on Sunday during the First Session of the 11th NPC.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    He called for innovation in the cultural sector to enhance diversity, and application of new technologies to renovate conventional means of communication.

    During discussions with the Shaanxi delegation, Xi Jinping said the northwestern province should underscore innovation to develop itself into an economic powerhouse in western China.

Xi Jinping (L front), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with deputies to the First Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from northwest China's Shaanxi Province in Beijing, capital of China, March 9, 2008. Xi Jinping joined in the panel discussion of Shaanxi delegation on Sunday during the First Session of the 11th NPC.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Shaanxi should give fully play to its advantages in science and technology, balance urban and rural development, foster the private sector while reinforcing the public sector.

    He said the province needs also to improve the livelihood of the people and explore new ways in the betterment of the people's lives in underdeveloped regions.

    While joining the lawmakers from the Chongqing delegation, Li Keqiang said that China, as a country with a big population of farmers, must balance urban and rural development in the modernization process.

Li Keqiang (2nd L), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, meets with deputies to the First Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from southwest China's Chongqing Municipality in Beijing, capital of China, March 9, 2008. Li Keqiang joined in the panel discussion of Chongqing delegation on Sunday during the First Session of the 11th NPC.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Chongqing should accelerate the pace of rejuvenating the old industrial base, make great efforts to develop the Three Gorges area, improve people's livelihood and make new strides in social and economic development, he said.