Top lawmaker: Ensure people's well-being to fight crisis

BEIJING -- Chinese leaders underscored the importance of relying on the people in the combat against the global financial turmoil, urging efforts to ensure their well-being, when joining lawmakers and political advisors in panel discussions Friday.

In his discussion with lawmakers from Chongqing Municipality, top legislator Wu Bangguo said it is a must to boost the people's confidence to tackle economic woes.

"Our efforts should mainly go to improvement of people's well-being, and we should have long-term targets in heart while dealing with difficulties at present," said Wu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature.

"The people are a most important source of strength to combat the financial crisis," said Premier Wen Jiabao when joining NPC deputies from the northwestern province of Gansu.

"I am here to learn about the real situations at grassroots levels," Wen said, adding the government work report he delivered at the opening of the NPC session Thursday was "a collection of wisdom of the people."

"Officials at various levels and ordinary people should join hands to make concerted efforts," he said.

"We must take into account the opinions of every NPC deputy so that the measures proposed in the government work report can become the common will of all the people of the nation, encourage them to take actions, and inspire the people with power to overcome difficulties," he said. "We must always boost confidence, and we must rely on the people all the time."

Top political advisor Jia Qinglin, who discussed Wen's government work report with advisors without party affiliation, called for concerted efforts from all walks of life, regardless of party affiliation or ethic identification, in boosting economic growth.

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, urged political advisors to actively offer suggestions on maintaining economic growth and social stability.

Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, pledged to inject more support to the cultural industry.

In his discussion with lawmakers from northeastern Jilin Province, he urged to build a cultural environment that encourages people to start their own businesses, honors people who do so, and promotes hard work.

Vice President Xi Jinping stressed coordination of varied efforts aimed to achieve economic goals during his discussion with deputies from Fujian Province.

He said expansion of domestic demand should go along with endeavors to stabilize exports, and also be combined with efforts in economic restructuring to elevate the economy to a higher level.

The government's efforts to accelerate industrial upgrade could also be connected to finding employment for the country's vast labor force , he added.

While discussing with lawmakers from the northeastern province of Liaoning, Vice Premier Li Keqiang warned that the global financial crisis and its impact on the real economy are still spreading. He urged to take measures to expand domestic demand, and enhance the vitality of the economy.

Efforts must be made to improve people's well-being to address pressing issues concerning the interests of the people, and to meet the people's basic demands, he said.

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