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The two-week-long First Session of the 10th National People's
Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, closed in Beijing Tuesday
morning after successfully completing its agenda.
The closing meeting, held in the Great Hall of the People in
downtown Beijing, was presided over by Wu Bangguo, chairman of the
NPC Standing Committee and also an executive chairman of the
session. A total of 2,913 NPC deputies attended the meeting.
Hu
Jintao, who was elected Chinese president at this NPC session,
delivered an important speech at the closing meeting, pledging that
he would faithfully perform the powers and functions endowed by the
Constitution, scrupulously discharge his duties, work hard and
industriously and serve the country and the people with utmost
sincerity.
"I
would never let down all the deputies and people of all
nationalities throughout the country," Hu said.
Hu
praised his predecessor, Jiang Zemin, for his able leadership and
his outstanding contributions to building socialism with Chinese
characteristics during the 10 years of his tenure.
In
particular, the important thought of 'Three Represents' Jiang put
forward by pooling the wisdom of the whole Party is of major and
far-reaching significance in guiding the causes of the country
forward, Hu said, adding: "We extend heartfelt thanks and respects
to Comrade Jiang Zemin."
The president described the mandate of the new state organ workers
as having been received "in the capriciously changing international
situation and at a time when the tasks of building the country are
heavy."
To
perform the sacred duties endowed by the people, he pledged that he
and the other ranking officials will give full scope to democracy
and do everything according to law, be loyal to the motherland and
always have the people in heart, carry what has been achieved into
the future and advance with the times, and impose strict
self-discipline and keep honest and clean in performing public
duties.
China's development is at a new historical starting point, said Hu.
"We should emancipate our minds, seek truth from facts, advance
with the times and take full advantage of the strategic opportunity
period in the first two decades of the 21st century to focus on
construction and development, push forward reform and opening-up in
a big way, promote a coordinated development of socialist material,
political and ideological civilizations, and advance firmly toward
the grand goal of building a well-off society in an all-round
way."
Hu
said the complete reunification of China is the common aspiration
of the Chinese people both at home and abroad. "We shall continue
to adhere to the principle of 'one country, two systems' to
maintain the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong and Macao, exert
ourselves to promote economic and cultural exchanges and exchange
of visits between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, and continue
to work for the earliest settlement of the Taiwan issue and realize
the complete reunification of the motherland."
The Chinese nation has always been peace-loving, he said. "We shall
continue the independent foreign policy of peace, maintain and
develop friendly and cooperative relations with all other countries
and, together with the people of all countries, work for a fair and
rational international political and economic order and ceaselessly
promote the lofty cause of peace and development of mankind."
The president finally expressed his full conviction that China is
sure to realize the national rejuvenation so long as "we hold high
the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory, carry out the important
thought of 'Three Represents,' adhere to the road of socialism with
Chinese characteristics, work hard with one mind and one
heart."
While delivering a closing speech, Wu Bangguo described this NPC
session as a "complete success."
On
behalf of the 10th NPC and its Standing Committee, he expressed
thanks and respects to Li Peng and all the member of the 9th NPC
Standing Committee as well as deputies to the 9th NPC.
Wu
said the five-year tenure of the 10th NPC is an important period
for laying a solid foundation for building a well-off society in an
all-round way. The 10th NPC and its Standing Committee will
continue to give priority to the development and socialist
democracy and improve the socialist legal system, earnestly perform
their duties endowed by the Constitution and law, adhere to and
improve the People's Congress system, build on what has been
achieved and advance with the times, so as to make greater
contribution to the socialist cause with Chinese
characteristics.
At
the closing meeting, the legislators also adopted by ballot
resolutions concerning the state development plan, central and
local budgets, and the work reports of the 9th NPC Standing
Committee and of the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme
People's Procuratorate.
(Xinhua News Agency March 18, 2003)
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