Delegates to the National People's Congress in Beijing from Jilin province took a look at central and local budgets, on March 9, to make certain that every penny that the government plans to spend is worthwhile for local economic development, since people's livelihoods are in the focus at the meeting.

One of them, Jiang Zhiying, the mayor of Changchun, suggested that the government could offer some favorable fiscal and tax policies for Changchun's New Area, which got State Council approval not long ago.

Jilin is a major grain producer thanks to its fertile black soil, but experts have warned that the grain-producing area could lose its fertile black soil within 50 years because of serious erosion, so another Jilin delegate, Jin Hua, proposed that the government provide more financial support for larger–scale preservation.

At the same time, delegates representing the education sector called for a greater commitment of funds for teachers and professional training, welfare and salary and with a primary school head from Jilin, Xiongmei, laying out a plan for China's Ministry of Education to come up with policies for the non-government-funded education sector, for better management, support and tuition standards.

Delegates to the National People's Congress in Beijing from Jilin province took a look at central and local budgets, on March 9.[Photo/chinajilin.com.cn]