Advisory body calls for better supervision

 BEIJING - China's top political advisory body ended its annual session on Sunday with calls for better supervision and greater attention in addressing issues concerning people's well-being.

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A resolution by the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) was approved at the closing meeting of the 11-day annual session.

The resolution proposed that the only correct road for China's development and progress is socialism with Chinese characteristics, as proved by practice.

"We should neither deviate nor waver from the path at any time, under any circumstances," it said.

It is the "primary task" for the CPPCC to boost the country's scientific development and speed up the transformation of its economic growth pattern for the 2011-2015 period, it added.

The resolution emphasized improving people's well-being through "restructuring income distribution and narrowing the income gap providing more job opportunities to college graduates and migrant workers and solving the housing difficulties of low- and middle-income families in cities".

Many CPPCC members praised the resolution.

"I care most about people's livelihood, especially surging housing prices, inflation, and the income gap," Zhong Wen told China Daily.

"The 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) lays out a general picture for improving people's livelihood. I think what we need to do is to make it happen."

Jiang Kun, a famous comedian, said the annual session ran the risk of vagueness if it did not take people's real needs into consideration.

"What really matters is whether ordinary people are satisfied with their life," Jiang said.

By 2 pm on Tuesday, a total of 2,035 CPPCC National Committee members had submitted 5,762 proposals concerning the Five-Year Plan, reform and opening-up, the socialist system of laws and issues related to people's well-being.

Proposals regarding livelihood issues accounted for more than 1,800 of those submitted.

The CPPCC National Committee will pass the proposals to 175 concerned departments and institutions on March 24.

"Development has been a priority for decades, now it's time to highlight creating a harmonious society so that people feel happier," said An Ayue, a doctor from Beijing who is also a CPPCC member.

Yu Ran, Wang Xiaotian and Xinhua contributed to this story.

China Daily

(China Daily 03/14/2011 page1)