III. Making new progress in deputy services, external exchanges and self-improvement

Making full use of the role of deputies is an important aspect of upholding and improving the system of people's congresses. We will continue to strengthen services for deputies, conscientiously handle the bills and suggestions deputies submitted to this session of the NPC, and strive to make the handling process one of improving the Standing Committee's work and prodding relevant parties to improve their work and solve problems. We will continue to invite deputies to participate in activities of the Standing Committee and special committees, make arrangements for activities for them when the NPC is not in session, and help them maintain close ties with their constituencies and the people so that they can better participate in the administration of state affairs.

We will make full use of the NPC's characteristics and advantages in developing foreign contacts in keeping with our country's basic policies and general arrangements for its diplomatic work, continue to improve the mechanism for regular exchanges with foreign congresses and parliaments, expand friendly contacts with them, and actively participate in the activities of international and regional parliamentary organizations to help the international community better understand China's basic national conditions, development path, and foreign and domestic policies and create a favorable international environment for our country's economic and social development.

We will continue to strengthen self-improvement of the Standing Committee, keep a firm grasp of the correct political orientation of the work of the NPC, resolutely implement the central leadership's major decisions and arrangements, stress politics, keep the larger picture in mind, and maintain discipline. We will forge close ties with the people, carry out thorough investigations and studies, hold lectures on special topics, strengthen our sense of responsibility and mission in performing our duties in accordance with the law, and do all our work more enthusiastically. We will carry out a series of activities to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the current Constitution and conscientiously review our positive experiences and practices in upholding and improving the system of people's congresses and successfully carrying out the work of the NPC under the new circumstances. We will continue to strengthen contacts with local people's congresses and work with them in developing socialist democracy and the socialist democratic legal system, and we will further improve the competency of employees of NPC bodies.

Fellow Deputies,

Since the first half of last year, elections of new people's congresses at the county and township levels have been carried out throughout the country in accordance with the central leadership's decisions and arrangements and the amended Electoral Law of the National People's Congress and Local People's Congresses. Cities divided into districts, autonomous prefectures, provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government will elect their new people's congresses from the second half of this year to early next year. At this session, decisions will be made on matters related to the election of deputies to the 12th NPC. These elections have a direct bearing on strengthening state power and are an important event in the political life of the country. We will carry out the elections under the leadership of the Party in a fully democratic way and in strict accordance with the law. We will elect to people's congresses people who strictly abide by the Constitution and laws, maintain close ties with the masses, strive to serve them, and are trusted by them. We will make sure that these elections fully embody the nature of China's political power whereby the people are masters of the country, the broad representativeness of people's congresses, and the unique advantages of the system of people's congresses under which the deputies come from and have deep roots among the people. We will also make sure that the elections provide a firm organizational guarantee for upholding and improving the system of people's congresses and developing socialist democratic politics.

Fellow Deputies,

Ours is a great and noble cause, and our mission is arduous yet glorious. Let us rally even closer around the Party Central Committee, with Comrade Hu Jintao as general secretary, hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, take Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents as our guide, thoroughly apply the Scientific Outlook on Development, be of one heart and one mind, break new ground, work diligently, welcome the 18th National Party Congress with outstanding achievements, and strive mightily to achieve new success in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and accelerating socialist modernization.

(Source: news.xinhuanet.com)