Report on the Work of the Government

Fellow Deputies,

China is a unified, multiethnic country. Only when its ethnic groups are united as one and work for the development of all can China achieve prosperity. We will adhere to and improve the system of regional ethnic autonomy, fully implement the central leadership's policies and measures for supporting the development of ethnic minorities and ethnic minority areas, and energetically implement plans to support development of ethnic groups with small populations, projects to bring prosperity to border areas and residents there, and services for ethnic minorities. We will unwaveringly consolidate and develop socialist ethnic relations of equality, solidarity, mutual assistance, and harmony.

We will actively implement the Party's basic policy on work related to religion, protect the lawful rights and interests of religious groups, religious figures, and believers, and give full play to their positive role in promoting economic development, cultural prosperity, and social harmony.

We will fully implement the Party's policy on overseas Chinese affairs, protect the lawful rights and interests of overseas Chinese and returned overseas Chinese and their relatives, and support them in taking an active part in the endeavor to modernize China and in advancing the great cause of China's peaceful reunification.

Fellow Deputies,

Strong national defense and powerful armed forces provide a firm guarantee for safeguarding China's sovereignty, security, and development interests. We will make the armed forces more revolutionary, modern, and standardized in all respects so they can comprehensively accomplish their historic mission at the new stage in the new century. We will enhance the armed forces' capability to accomplish a wide range of military tasks, the most important of which is to win local wars under information-age conditions. We will strengthen their ideological and political standards, and adhere to the fundamental principle of the Party having absolute leadership over the armed forces, and we should maintain the Chinese armed forces' fundamental purpose of being an army of the people. We will vigorously carry out military training under information-age conditions. We will accelerate the modernization of the logistics support system, and vigorously enhance our capacity for making innovations in defense-related science and technology and in weapons and equipment development. We will focus on training a new type of highly competent military personnel. We will actively yet prudently carry out reform of national defense and the armed forces. We will run the armed forces with strict discipline and in accordance with the law. We will comprehensively modernize the armed police force. We will strengthen national defense mobilization and improve our reserves. We will ensure the armed forces resolutely accomplish the tasks of combating terrorism, maintaining stability, handling emergencies, and relieving disasters. We will follow the path of integrated military and civilian development with Chinese characteristics by unifying military and civilian industries and embedding military programs in civilian industries. We will consolidate and develop solidarity between the military and the government and between the military and the people.

Fellow Deputies,

Hong Kong and Macao are closely bound with the mainland of China and we share a common destiny. We will unwaveringly implement the principle of "one country, two systems" under which the people of Hong Kong govern Hong Kong and the people of Macao govern Macao and both regions enjoy a high degree of autonomy, and we will fully support the two regions in growing their economies, improving the people's wellbeing and promoting democracy. We support the governments of the two special administrative regions in meeting the challenges of international economic risks and in upholding economic and financial stability and ensuring long-term prosperity and development. We will implement coordinated policies and measures for supporting the economic and social development of Hong Kong and Macao, open the mainland much wider to trade in services with the two regions, accelerate the construction of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and other shared infrastructure projects, and deepen cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao to support them in participating in international and regional economic cooperation. We support Hong Kong in consolidating and elevating its position as an international financial, trade, and shipping center, and in becoming a center of offshore RMB transactions. We support Macao in becoming a world center of tourism and leisure, building the Hengqin New Area, and diversifying Macao's economy as necessary. We believe that with the staunch support of the great motherland, our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao will certainly create an even brighter future for themselves.

Last year, relations across the Taiwan Straits withstood serious tests and improved considerably. Opposing Taiwan independence, accepting the 1992 Consensus, consolidating achievements in exchanges and cooperation, and promoting peaceful development of cross-Straits relations have increasingly become shared aspirations of the people on both sides of the Straits. In 2012, we will adhere to the central leadership's policies on work related to Taiwan; strengthen the political, economic, and cultural foundation and public support for growing cross-Straits relations; and make further progress in promoting their peaceful development. We will deepen all-around cross-Straits economic and financial cooperation, and strive to make new progress in the follow-up talks on the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement. We will accelerate development of the Western Taiwan Straits Economic Zone. We will energetically expand cross-Straits exchanges between people from all walks of life and carry out cultural, educational and other exchanges to forge a closer bond and increase mutual attachment and common interests between the two sides. All Chinese people should unite more closely and endeavor to accomplish the great cause of China's reunification and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Fellow Deputies,

In the new year, China's diplomacy should better promote the country's over-arching goal of promoting reform, opening up, and socialist modernization; and make greater contributions to global economic growth and world peace and stability. We will continue to deepen friendly relations with our neighbors; actively participate in cooperation mechanisms with them; deepen regional cooperation; and work with them in creating a regional environment of peace, stability, equality, mutual trust, cooperation, and mutual benefit. We will enhance unity and cooperation with other developing countries, deepen traditional friendships, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, help achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals, and uphold the legitimate rights and interests as well as the common interests of developing countries. We will increase strategic dialogue with other major countries to promote strategic mutual trust, broaden areas of cooperation, and promote the long-term, steady, and sound growth of our relations with them. We will actively participate in multilateral affairs and global governance and contribute to making the international political and economic order more just and equitable. We will adhere to the path of peaceful development, continue to pursue an independent foreign policy of peace, and follow an open strategy of mutual benefit. We will work tirelessly with other countries to advance human civilization, improve the wellbeing of people in all countries, and build a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.

Fellow Deputies,

In the past, we have achieved remarkable progress through hard work. In the future, we must continue to work tirelessly to accomplish the important tasks on the road ahead. Let all of us rally closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary, free our minds, forge ahead in the spirit of innovation, make solid progress in our work, and strive to further advance socialist modernization.