Chinese Leaders Call for Fresh Development by Overcoming Difficulties

    Chinese leaders joined deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, in deliberating the government work report by Premier Wen Jiabao Thursday, calling for concerted efforts to overcome difficulties and achieve fresh development.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (front R), meets with deputies to the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from east China's Jiangsu Province, March 5, 2009.  (Xinhua/Fan Rujun)

    When joining NPC deputies from the eastern Jiangsu Province, President Hu Jintao urged them to have a clear mind of the current domestic and international situation, saying "challenges before us are really severe, but opportunities still exist".

    It is a must to seize the opportunities, brave the challenges and do our utmost to minimize the impact of the international financial crisis, Hu said.

    "(We) must break new ground by tackling challenges and achieve fresh development by overcoming difficulties," he added.

    He called for more efforts to improve the well-being of the people especially when there are difficulties in the way of economic development. This included increasing job opportunities, expanding the social security net and providing better education and medical care services.

    The president urged officials at all levels to oppose waste and extravagance and make good use of money to promote economic and social development and improve people's lives.

    He asked officials to "study earnestly, behave honestly and work with integrity."

    While deliberating the report with lawmakers from Anhui Province, top legislator Wu Bangguo said priority should given to maintaining steady and relatively rapid economic growth, accelerating economic restructuring and improving people's well-being.

Wu Bangguo (front R), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and also chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), shakes hands with a deputy to the Second Session of the 11th NPC from east China's Anhui Province, March 5, 2009.   (Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)