Second, we must always take the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people as the starting point. The position of the people as masters of the country is the essence and core of socialist democratic politics. The system of people's congresses is the fundamental way and highest format for the people of all the country's ethnic groups to act as masters of the country. The greatest advantage of the NPC is that it maintains close contact with the masses. As long as the NPC maintains flesh and blood contact with the masses, constantly works to better represent their will and conscientiously accepts their oversight, its work will remain full of vitality. We must always put people first, make the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of them the starting point and ultimate objective of all the work of the NPC, respect their principal position in the country's political life, make good use of their creative spirit and guarantee all their rights and interests. We must ensure that all the power of the state belongs to the people, improve democratic institutions, diversify the forms of democracy and expand its channels. We need to expand the orderly participation of ordinary citizens in political affairs at each level and in every field and protect their right to participate in democratic elections, decision-making, administration and oversight in accordance with the law. We must continue to adhere to the mass line and give more play to the advantages and role of the NPC in understanding and reflecting public sentiment, pooling the wisdom of the people and respecting their resources. We must correctly reflect and balance the interests of different groups in society, diligently urge the concerned parties to promptly solve the most practical problems of the utmost and immediate concern to the people, ensure their well being, improve their lives, mobilize their enthusiasm, initiative and creativity to the greatest extent possible, and fulfill, safeguard and develop the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the people.
Third, we must always center our work around the work of the Party and the state. The work of the NPC is an important component of the work of the Party and the state, touches on many areas of socialist economic, political, cultural and social development, and has a bearing on efforts to realize comprehensive, balanced and sustainable development of all the undertakings of the country. The work of the NPC is playing a more and more important role in the political life of the country as the system of people's congresses is improved. A key condition for improving the effectiveness of the work of the NPC and raising it to a new level is to ensure that it is subservient to and serves the core tasks of the Party and the state and that it steadfastly promotes development, which is the top priority in the Party's governance of and efforts to rejuvenate the country. In addition, the NPC must constantly strive to improve its work by closely linking it to efforts to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects, address the major issues affecting reform, development and stability and resolve difficult hotspot issues of common concern to the people. The Scientific Outlook on Development is a concentrated expression of the Marxist worldview and methodology on development. It is a scientific theory that is in the same vein as Marxism, Mao Zedong Thought, Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents and that is in step with the times. It is an important guiding principle for China's economic and social development and a major strategic approach that we must follow and apply in developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. The NPC should diligently study and fully put into practice the Scientific Outlook on Development, thoroughly arrange and plan all legislative, oversight and other work, persevere in reform and opening up, keep up with the times, pool its resources, and concentrate on key areas, first of all taking into consideration its assigned functions and characteristics in order to open up new horizons in its work directly tied to the overall work of the Party and state. The NPC should ensure that the major policies and principles of the Party and the state as well as the Constitution and laws are correctly implemented and that reform, opening up and socialist modernization proceed smoothly.
Fourth, we must always handle affairs in accordance with the law and stipulated procedures. Democratic centralism is the organizational principle for the system of people's congresses as well as a principle by which the NPC and its Standing Committee must abide when exercising their functions and powers in accordance with the law. The way the NPC carries out its work is very different from that of other state organs. The NPC and its Standing Committee mainly do their work through meetings, in compliance with the principle of democratic centralism and following legally stipulated procedures, and exercise their functions and powers and decide on issues collectively. In carrying out their responsibilities in accordance with the law, regardless of whether they are exercising legislative power, power of oversight, power to make decisions on major issues or power to appoint and dismiss personnel, they must always fully uphold democracy and handle matters strictly in accordance with the law and stipulated procedures. The opinions of all the deputies and members of the Standing Committee must be heard, even the opposing opinions, and their democratic rights to fully express their opinions must be guaranteed. Matters should be fully deliberated to get a full range of ideas and opinions so that voting is based on a basic consensus, and decisions should be made on the basis of majority opinion with one vote per person so that the laws formulated and decisions made by the NPC fully reflect the common will of the people and are authoritative.