NPC,  CPPCC Annual Sessions 2009

Special Report: Global Financial Crisis

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (front R) joins a panel discussion with deputies to the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2009. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Premier Wen Jiabao said here Tuesday China must deepen reforms and further open up as the country tackles economic woes.

    The policy of reform and opening up is the key choice that determines the future of China in the contemporary era and the country's powerful weapon in fighting the global financial crisis, said Wen when joining a panel discussion with lawmakers from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

    "The more difficulties we face, the more firmly we should stick to reforms and opening up," Wen told the lawmakers who are attending the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislative body.

    The country should improve its development model with the spirit of reform and innovation and forge its advantage in international economic cooperation and competition by adhering to opening up, said Wen.

    "Only by deepening reforms can we continuously perfect the socialist system and fully mobilize the enthusiasm and creativity of the people ... only by opening up can we learn from the achievements of human society and better tap the domestic and foreign markets and resources," he said.

    Other senior leaders stressed more efforts for people's well-being and economic development Tuesday.

Changchun (front L), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, joins a panel discussion with deputies to the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2009.(Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng) Photo Gallery>>>

    Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, urged for a better "soft environment" for China's development including a clean and efficient government, a democratic and just judicial system, fair play in market competition, a safe and stable society, a comfortable and convenient life, a healthy and upright morality, a sustainable environment, and a social and cultural environment conducive for the growth of young people.

    The government should strengthen the management of the Internet, radio and TV broadcasts, the publication market and campus environment to curb the spreading of "decadent, backward and vulgar" culture among the youth, Li said when joining a panel discussion with lawmakers from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

A deputy to the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from southwest China's Yunnan Province presents an ornament to Li Keqiang (front, L), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2009. Li Keqiang joined a panel discussion with deputies to the Second Session of the 11th NPC from southwest China's Yunnan Province on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Yang Zongyou) Photo Gallery>>>

    Vice Premier Li Keqiang told NPC deputies from the southwestern border province of Yunnan that economic development and people's welfare concerns social stability.

    He urged local governments to spare no efforts in creating jobs, and improving low-income housing, rural infrastructure and ecological protection.

He Guoqiang (front, C), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, joins a panel discussion with deputies to the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from south China's Hainan Province, in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2009. (Xinhua/Ma Zhancheng) Photo Gallery>>>

    When joining discussions with lawmakers from the southmost province of Hainan, He Guoqiang, secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, said the tropical island should give priority to planning and environmental protection in pursuing its goal of becoming a major international tourist destination.

Zhou Yongkang (C), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, joins a panel discussion with deputies to the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from northwest China's Qinghai Province, in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2009.(Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) Photo Gallery>>>

    Zhou Yongkang, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau, underscored ecological protection, ethnic unity and social harmony when discussing with NPC deputies from the northwestern Qinghai Province.

    Qinghai must be more aggressive in developing environmentally-friendly industries, increase the revenues of farmers and herdsmen and improve education in ethnic minority areas, said Zhou.

Top advisor: Comprehensive economic cooperation agreement will benefit Taiwan

Jia Qinglin (front L), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and also chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), joins a panel discussion with Taiwan delegation to the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2009. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- The signing of the proposed comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA) between Chinese mainland and Taiwan will benefit the island in both short and long term, senior Chinese leader Jia Qinglin said here Tuesday.

    Some people in Taiwan are politicizing economic issues. They are trying to impede economic exchanges and cooperation across the Taiwan Straits with political factors, said Jia, chairman of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a political advisory body.

Chinese vice president stresses safety in coal-rich province

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping (front R), who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, joins a panel discussion with deputies to the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from north China's Shanxi Province, in Beijing, capital of China, March 10, 2009.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping Tuesday called for safety in development, to ensure the economic growth, people's well-being and social stability in the coal-rich northern Shanxi Province.

    "Safety in development is vital to people's lives and health," said Xi, when joining a panel discussion with lawmakers from Shanxi.