The ongoing Fifth Sessions of the Tenth National
People's Congress (NPC) and the Tenth National Committee of the
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) have
cast the spotlight yet again on social issues and the needs of the
Chinese people.
Seventy-year-old Hu Liangjie, who watched the "live" broadcast
of Premier Wen Jiabao's delivery of the government work report on
Monday March 5, said: "I am glad to find that our government will
be taking strong measures to save energy and protect the
environment."
"And as I'm keeping track of the ongoing sessions on TV, I've
also found out that education is a major issue for NPC deputies and
CPPCC members. I was a middle school teacher before I retired. So,
education is a topic very close to my heart."
Taxi-driver Li Tie had a special passenger in his car yesterday.
"It was a CPPCC member who was on his way to Dongdan. I told him
that I have to spend over 1,000 yuan every month on my mom's
medical fees. He assured me that countless proposals on medical
care reform had been submitted to the sessions. I am relieved to
know that our representatives are doing their duty."
One of the draft pieces of legislation hogging media headlines
are the proposed amendments to the Property Law. Xiao Wu, who works
with a foreign company, would like to see the government doing more
to control housing prices.
"A two-bedroom apartment in Chaoyang District would cost me over
1 million yuan (US$129,200). I just can't afford that. Even resale
property is a little over my price range. In some areas of Beijing,
the average price per square meter is over 10,000 yuan (US$1,292).
And prices are only increasing."
Public administration is another issue that matters to the
Chinese people.
Li Nan, a student who has been studying in Germany for the last
five years, said: "Xinhua reported that the (Communist) Party's
discipline inspection organs at various levels last year punished
97,260 Party members, 0.14 percent of the total number of Party
members. When I first read the story, I was astonished and felt
ashamed that corruption is so rife in China."
"Premier Wen's government report touched on the issue of
corruption and I believe the government is taking a firm stance on
the fight against corruption."
(China.org.cn by staff reporter Wu Nanlan, March 12, 2007)