The Standing Committee of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, held its first meeting here on Wednesday.
Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, presided over the meeting.
Wu, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said the next five years entered a pivotal period for building a moderately prosperous society in all aspects. Thus the 11th NPC and its Standing Committee were supposed to fully implement the guiding principles of the 17th CPC National Congress held last October, hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and uphold the Party's leadership, according to Wu.
The 11th NPC and its Standing Committee should adhere to and further improve the NPC system, fully implement the basic strategy of ruling the country by law, and safeguard the fundamental interests of the people, he said.
Wu urged the Standing Committee and all special committees of the NPC to work diligently for the country and the people, and follow the right political direction while fulfilling their jobs.
China's adoption of the NPC system was a natural outcome, he told the meeting, asking the participants to fully understand the true nature of the system, and steadfastly keep its unique characteristics.
Wu asked them to uplift the work of the NPC to a new level, and ensure a legal system with Chinese characteristics to be set up by2010 while improving the quality of legislation.
He also urged the Standing Committee to better equip themselves with political theories and laws, familiarize themselves with the regulations and procedures of NPC work, and improve their working style to better fulfill their roles.
At the meeting, Wang Wanbin, Qiao Xiaoyang, Zhang Shaoqin, Cao Weizhou, Wang Qingxi, Li Lianning, He Yehui, Sun Wei and Liu Zhenwei were appointed deputy secretaries-general of the NPC Standing Committee.