The ongoing Fifth Sessions of the Tenth National People's Congress (NPC) and the Tenth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) have cast the spotlight yet again on social issues and the needs of the Chinese people.

Seventy-year-old Hu Liangjie, who watched the "live" broadcast of Premier Wen Jiabao's delivery of the government work report on Monday March 5, said: "I am glad to find that our government will be taking strong measures to save energy and protect the environment."

"And as I'm keeping track of the ongoing sessions on TV, I've also found out that education is a major issue for NPC deputies and CPPCC members. I was a middle school teacher before I retired. So, education is a topic very close to my heart."

Taxi-driver Li Tie had a special passenger in his car yesterday. "It was a CPPCC member who was on his way to Dongdan. I told him that I have to spend over 1,000 yuan every month on my mom's medical fees. He assured me that countless proposals on medical care reform had been submitted to the sessions. I am relieved to know that our representatives are doing their duty."

One of the draft pieces of legislation hogging media headlines are the proposed amendments to the Property Law. Xiao Wu, who works with a foreign company, would like to see the government doing more to control housing prices.

"A two-bedroom apartment in Chaoyang District would cost me over 1 million yuan (US$129,200). I just can't afford that. Even resale property is a little over my price range. In some areas of Beijing, the average price per square meter is over 10,000 yuan (US$1,292). And prices are only increasing."

Public administration is another issue that matters to the Chinese people.

Li Nan, a student who has been studying in Germany for the last five years, said: "Xinhua reported that the (Communist) Party's discipline inspection organs at various levels last year punished 97,260 Party members, 0.14 percent of the total number of Party members. When I first read the story, I was astonished and felt ashamed that corruption is so rife in China."

"Premier Wen's government report touched on the issue of corruption and I believe the government is taking a firm stance on the fight against corruption."

(China.org.cn by staff reporter Wu Nanlan, March 12, 2007)