The presidium of the first session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, held its first meeting Tuesday and elected Wu Bangguo as its presiding chairman.
Wu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, shook hands cordially with Li Peng, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Ninth NPC after the result was announced.
"I wish the first session of the 10th NPC a complete success," Li said before leaving the rostrum.
The meeting adopted the schedule of the parliamentary meetings to be held from March 5 to 18, in accordance with the NPC rules of procedure.
Premier Zhu Rongji is expected to give a report outlining last year's governmental work at today's opening ceremony of the session.
During the session, which runs for almost two weeks, the State Council will introduce a new round of institutional reform to the legislators for approval.
The session is also expected to review a report on the implementation of the 2002 national economic and social development plan and a draft plan for 2003 national economic and social development to be made by Zeng Peiyan, minister of the State Development Planning Commission.
It will also review a report on last year's central and local government budgets and the central and local government budgets for this year, which is expected to be delivered by Minister of Finance Xiang Huaicheng.
The presidium set 6 pm on March 10 as the deadline for NPC deputies to submit motions. A delegation of NPC deputies or a group of at least 30 deputies are eligible to raise a motion on issues within the power of the NPC.
(China Daily March 5, 2003)
