Debate on the country's first strategic plan for the new century will top the agenda of the annual meeting of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC), which opens today.
A preparatory meeting for the Fourth Session of the Ninth NPC, held yesterday in Beijing, set the agenda of the parliamentary meeting to be held March 5-15, according to the NPC's rules of procedure.
During the session, NPC deputies will concentrate on deliberation of the draft for the 10th Five-Year Plan, the major blueprint to guide the country's economic and social development over the next five years.
Premier Zhu Rongji is expected to give a report outlining the 10th Five-Year Plan for China's economic and social development at the opening ceremony of the session today.
Other issues on the agenda include:
Hearing and discussing a report on the implementation of the 2000 national economic and social development plan and a draft plan for 2001 national economic and social development;
Hearing, examining and approving a report on the implementation of the central and local budgets for 2000 and the central and local budgets for 2001;
Hearing and examining a report on the work of the NPC Standing Committee;
Examining an amendment to the Sino-Foreign Joint Venture Law;
Hearing and examining work reports by the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.
Electing new members to the NPC Standing Committee.
A total of 2,674 NPC deputies attended the preparatory meeting, and Tian Jiyun, vice-chairman of the Ninth NPC Standing Committee, was chosen as secretary-general for this session of the congress.
(China Daily 03/05/2001)
