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March 10, 2010

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Social issues, economy targeted

CHINA'S top lawmaker said yesterday that legislative priorities this year would focus on improving social security and fostering more equitable economic development.

Uneven economic growth, rocketing home prices, limited and expensive medical care, and sparse pension plans have raised huge concerns in China about social stability.

In his work report delivered to the National People's Congress, China's legislature whose annual session ends on Sunday, Chairman Wu Bangguo said delegates would put the final touches on a draft social security law and make adjustments to the legal system to "dispel people's worries and better maintain social harmony and stability."

The social security law aims to set up a safety net of pension, health care and jobless benefits, provide free primary and secondary education, and assist the migration of rural residents to cities.

Wu said the NPC would always put people first, promote social equality and justice, and foster a culture of harmony.

"At present, Chinese society is generally harmonious, but there are a number of disparities," Wu said.

The legislature would inspect progress of the implementation of recent key reforms on medical care and promote equal access to basic public health care services and the pilot reform of public hospitals, he said.

Other issues concerning people's well-being that are on the NPC Standing Committee's agenda include major problems faced by rural migrant workers, equal rights for women and ethnic relations that are of equality, unity, mutual assistance and harmony.

The NPC Standing Committee needed to carry out oversight of work focused on accelerating the transformation of the economic development pattern and improving and upgrading the industrial structure, he said.

He also said the committee would urge the government to implement policies and measures for supporting emerging industries, promote restructuring and foster new areas of economic growth.

Wu vowed to help increase China's independent innovation capacity and promote the application of scientific and technological advances in production.

Other plans include promoting policies to support and benefit agriculture, rural areas, and farmers.

Investigations would be carried out on the implementation of the central government's investment plans to ensure smooth progress of major projects, Wu said.



 

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