Hu Jintao, Wu Bangguo Speak at Closing Ceremony of NPC Session 18 Mar

Text of report by official Chinese news agency Xinhua (New China News Agency)
[(Two Sessions Authorized Release) Report: "The First Session of the 11th NPC Closes in Beijing on 18 March"]

Beijing, 18 Mar (Xinhua) - Having satisfactorily completed all items on the agenda and having elected the constituent members of state organs of the new term, the First Session of the 11th National People's Congress was concluded at the Great Hall of the People on the morning of 18 March.

President Hu Jintao delivered an important speech at the closing ceremony. He pointed out: In the face of new situations and new tasks, we must comprehensively implement the gist of the 17th CCP National Congress, hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, follow the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thinking of the "Three representations," thoroughly apply the scientific development concept, continue to emancipate the mind, persistently carry out reform and opening up, facilitate a scientific development, promote social harmony, continue to comprehensively build up a well-off society, and speed up the process of socialist modernization building.

Wu Bangguo, executive chairman of the First Session of the 11th NPC and chairman of the 11th NPC Standing Committee, presided over today's meeting.

Hu Jintao, Wen Jiabao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang, Zhou Yongkang, and other party and state leaders were seated at the rostrum.

Seated in the front row on the rostrum were executive chairmen of the First Session of the 11th NPC and vice-chairmen of the 11th NPC Standing Committee, namely Wang Zhaoguo, Lu Yongxiang, Uyunqimg, Han Qide, Hua Jianmin, Chen Zhili, Zhou Tienong, Li Jianguo, Ismail Tiliwaldi, Jiang Shusheng, Chen Changzhi, Yan Junqi, and Sang Guowi.

During the meeting, which lasted for 13 and a half days, shouldered with the great trust of the people of all ethnic groups across the country, nearly 3,000 NPC delegates have conscientiously exercised the responsibilities entrusted by the Constitution and the law, deliberated and approved the Government Work Report and other reports, summarized the significant accomplishments and the useful experiences China has achieved and gained in all aspects of its work over the past five years, clearly set major tasks and work arrangements for the present year and for the coming five years, and have elected according to the law and made decisions on the appointments of leading members of state organs of the new term.

A total of 2,932 delegates attended today's meeting.

At 0900 hours, Wu Bangguo announced the start of the meeting.

The meeting voted through the Resolution on the Government Work Report, and endorsed the Government Work Report. The meeting noted that China had achieved over the past five years significant accomplishments of world interest in its reform, opening up, and modernization building. The meeting fully reaffirmed the work of the State Council over the past five years; and agreed with the objectives, tasks, and work arrangements that the Report had set forth for the country's economic and social development in 2008.

The meeting voted through the Resolution on the Implementation of the National Economic and Social Development Programme for 2007 and the National Economic and Social Development Programme for 2008, and adopted the National Economic and Social Development Programme for 2008; and voted through the Resolution on the Implementation of Central and Local Budgets for 2007 and the National Economic and Social Development Programme for 2008, and approved the National Economic and Social Economic Development Programme for 2008. The meeting also voted through the Resolution on the Work Report of the NPC Standing Committee, the Resolution on the Work Report of the Supreme People's Court, and the Resolution on the Work Report of the Supreme People's Procuratorate; and made decisions on the ratification of the three reports.

The participants broke out into warm applause when these resolutions were voted through.

After all the items the agenda were completed, Hu Jintao delivered an important speech. He expressed heartfelt thanks for his reelection by the meeting as president of the People's Republic of China, and for the trust of all delegates and the people of all ethnic groups across the country.

Hu Jintao said: Holding the lofty position as PRC president, I am shouldered with a glorious mission and heavy responsibilities. I will faithfully fulfil the sacred responsibility entrusted by the Constitution, scrupulously abide by my duty, work diligently, serve the people, exert myself for the country, and never be unworthy of the great trust of all the delegates and the people of all ethnic groups across the country.

Hu Jintao indicated: Shouldered with the heavy responsibilities entrusted by the people, we functionaries of state organs of the new term should answer the call of the times and conform to the will of the people, and should make sure to accomplish the following during the process of fulfilling our functions and responsibilities:

Firstly, we should persistently uphold democracy and the rule of law. We should always ensure an organic unity among adhering to the leadership of the party, ensuring that the people are the masters of the country, and running the country according to the law; unswervingly safeguard the unity, sanctity, and authority of the socialist legal system; carry forward the spirit of the rule of law; promote social fairness and justice; and ensure harmony and stability in society.

Secondly, we should persistently adopt a people-centred approach. We should always adhere to the fundamental aim of serving the people wholeheartedly, respect the people's position as the mainstay, give rein to the people's initiative, maintain the various rights and interests of the people, be a good public servant, and sincerely seek benefits for the people.

Third, we should persistently strive for tangible results with a realistic approach. We should always carry forward the spirit of emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, and advancing with the times; go deep into the realities of life, and immerse ourselves among the masses; seize opportunities and meet challenge; have the courage to make changes and innovations; handle our work in line with the objective law; and constantly open up new prospects in all aspects of our work.

Fourth, we should always be honest and upright, and free from corruption. We should always maintain the work style of guarding against arrogance and impetuosity and carrying out the hard struggle; consciously establish the socialist concept on honour and disgrace; wield the power in our hands correctly; sincerely subject ourselves to supervision by the people; exercise strict self- discipline, and have integrity in performing our official duties; and work for the interest of the country and the people assiduously and honestly.

Hu Jintao said: The process of the magnificent struggle carried out by the Chinese nation has told us that only by making unremitting efforts to improve ourselves are we able to keep a good control over our own fate; only by advancing with the times are we able to keep pace with the times; only by introducing reform and opening up are we able to make our country strong and our people rich; and only by carrying out the hard struggle are we able to accomplish a grant cause.

Hu Jintao indicated: At a time when extensive and profound changes are taking place in the world, extensive and profound transformations are also taking place in contemporary China, and the country's reform and development are now at a crucial stage. We firmly believe that no matter what difficulties and risks we will encounter on our way ahead, so long as we unswervingly follow the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics, rally closely and advance forward with keen determination, provide against danger while living in peace, and immerse ourselves in hard work, we will surely be able to win new victories in the comprehensive building of the well-off society and open up new prospects in the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics! We will surely be able to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and make new and greater contributions to the mankind!

Wu Bangguo also delivered a speech after that. He indicated: Thanks to the joint efforts of all delegates, the First Session of the 11th NPC has satisfactorily completed all prescribed tasks. The meeting is a great success, as it has fully developed democracy and has acted in strict accordance with the law. This is a meeting that holds high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics and comprehensively implements the gist of the 17th CCP National Congress; and a meeting that advances with the times, promotes democracy and unity, and seeks tangible results and spurs people on. This meeting will surely further encourage and mobilize the people of all ethnic groups across the country to unite as one, work with stamina and diligence, and fight a united struggle for winning new success in the comprehensive building of a well-off society and in opening up new prospects in the undertaking of socialism with Chinese characteristics. On behalf of the 11th NPC and its Standing Committee, he extended highest regards and sincere gratitude to the delegates of the 10th NPC, and to the constituent members of the 10th NPC Standing Committee and all its special committees.

Wu Bangguo said: This meeting has elected the 11th NPC Standing Committee, and has reelected me as chairman of the NPC Standing Committee. This represents great trust for us from all delegates and from the people of all ethnic groups across the country. On behalf of the constituent members of the 11th NPC Standing Committee, I would like to express my sincere thanks. He noted: We will, together with all delegates, faithfully exercise the powers entrusted by the Constitution and the law, scrupulously fulfil our duty, work with diligence, exert ourselves to serve the country and the people, and live up to the great trust of the people of all ethnic groups across the country.

Wu Bangguo indicated: The coming five years will be a crucial period for China's comprehensive building of a well-off society. The 11th NPC and its Standing Committee will comprehensively carry out the gist of the 17th CCP National Congress; hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics; unswervingly follow the road of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and unswervingly follow the guide of the theoretic system on socialism with Chinese characteristics; persistently ensure an organic unity among adhering to the leadership of the party, ensuring that the people are the masters of the country, and running the country according to the law; centre our work around focal tasks, give prominence to key work areas, and work in a down-to-earth manner; and do a good job in implementing and improving the people's congress system, do a good job in carrying out and materializing the basic strategy of running the country according to the law, and do a good job in realizing and maintaining the fundamental interests of the greatest majority of the people.

The speeches respectively delivered by Hu Jintao and Wu Bangguo aroused many rounds of warm applause from the audience.

At about 0940 hours, Wu Bangguo announced: The First Session of the 11th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China is now successfully concluded.

The meeting came to an end amidst the majestic music of the national anthem.

Also seated on the rostrum were Wang Gang, Wang Lequan, Wang Qishan, Hui Liangyu, Liu Qi, Liu Yunshan, Liu Yandong, Li Yuanchao, Wang Yang, Zhang Gaoli, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Xu Caihou, Guo Boxiong, Bo Xilai, He Yong, Ling Jihua, Wang Huning, Liang Guanglie, Ma Kai, Meng Jianzhu, Dai Bingguo, Wang Shengjun, Cao Jianming, Liao Hui, Du Qinglin, Bai Lichen, Chen Kuiyuan, Abdulahat Abdulrixit, Li Zhaozhuo, Huang Mengfu, Dong Jianhua, Zhang Meiying, Zhang Rongming, Qian Yunlu, Sun Jiazheng, Li Jinhua, Zheng Wantong, Deng Pufang, Wan Gang, Lin Wenyi, Li Wuwei, Luo Fuhe, Chen Zongxing, Wang Zhizhen; Li Tieying, Ismail Amat, He Luli, Ding Shisun, Cheng Siwei, Xu Jialu, Jiang Zhenghua, Gu Xiulian, Raidi, Sheng Huaren, Xiao Yang, Jia Chunwang, Wang Zhongyu, Li Guixian, Zhang Siqing, Luo Haocai, Zhang Kehui, Hao Jianxiu, Xu Kuangdi, Zhang Huaixi, and Li Meng; Central Military Commission Members Chen Bingde, Li Jinai, Liao Xilong, Chang Wanquan, Jing Zhiyuan, Wu Shengli, Xu Qiliang; and Qiao Qingchen.

Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-Kuen and Macao SAR Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau-wah attended the meeting as non- voting delegates and were seated on the rostrum.

Responsible persons of central, party, government, military, mass leading bodies, responsible persons of the central committees of all democratic parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and non-party personages attended the meeting as non- voting delegates. Foreign diplomatic envoys to China were present at the meeting as observers.

On the afternoon of 18 March, Hu Jintao and other party and state leaders met at the Great Hall of the People with all the delegates attending the First Session of the 11th NPC, and had a group photo taken with the delegates to mark the occasion.

Originally published by Xinhua news agency domestic service, Beijing, in Chinese 0712 18 Mar 08.

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