Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called Wednesday for study and implementation of the newly amended Constitution at the third study session of the State Council in Beijing.

China's top legislature, the National People's Congress (NPC), adopted amendments to the Constitution at the close of its annual session in March 2004. The amendments consist of 14 revisions, including the respect for and protection of human rights and the protection of lawful private property.

Staff members of governments at all levels should fully understand the supreme status of the Constitution in China's political and social life, the premier said, calling on officials to push forward administration by law.

The amended Constitution better suits the national conditions, better reflects the spirit of the current era and better meets the demand of building an all-round well-off society, he said.

The key point to the administration by law is administration by Constitution, and the governmental legislation and administrative law execution should be strengthened, he said, underlining the public supervision over the government.

Wen called on officials to quicken reforms on land confiscation systems, to boost non-public economy, to further protect citizens’ legal private property, to improve social security systems and to establish a quick-response mechanism for handling public crises.

(Xinhua News Agency April 1, 2004)