9. Accelerating reform of the administrative system and intensifying government self-improvement.
Reform of the administrative system is an important link in deepening reform, an important part of the reform of political institutions, and an essential step in improving the socialist market economy. In reforming the administrative system, we should adhere to the following general principles and requirements: We must put people first and govern for the people. We should see to it that this reform proceeds in line with development of socialist democracy and the socialist market economy. Decisions must be made scientifically and democratically; the government must be run in accordance with the law, and administrative oversight needs to be strengthened. We need to make innovations in management and institutions and make full use of the initiative of both the central government and local governments. Efforts should be focused on changing functions, straightening out inter-departmental relationships, improving the structure and raising efficiency in order to develop an administrative system in which powers are commensurate with responsibilities, the division of work among departments is appropriate, decisions are scientific, enforcement is carried out smoothly and oversight is effective.
First, we must accelerate the transformation of government functions. This is central to deepening reform of the administrative system. We need to improve the division of responsibilities among government departments, ensure that all departments properly execute their functions and strive to build a service-oriented government. While improving regulation of the economy and the market, we must increase efforts to improve public administration and public services, safeguard social justice and order, and ensure equal access for all to basic public services. We will attach great importance to the role of civil organizations such as industrial associations and chambers of commerce in this area.
Second, we must deepen reform of government bodies. Our current plan for the reform of bodies of the State Council mainly centers on changing the way the government functions, appropriately dividing responsibilities among departments that exercise macroeconomic regulation, adjusting and improving bodies in charge of industrial management, and improving departments responsible for public administration and public services. The plan explores ways to establish larger departments that organically integrate the functions of smaller departments. To resolve the problem of overlapping responsibilities and of powers not being matched by responsibilities, the plan clearly defines the responsibilities and powers of each department, clarifies the relationship of responsibilities among departments, and improves the mechanism for interdepartmental coordination and cooperation. The plan will be submitted to you for deliberation and approval.
Third, we must improve the mechanism of administrative oversight. We need to use institutions to oversee the exercise of power, the handling of government affairs and the management of personnel. We will strengthen oversight of the exercise of administrative power and standardize procedures for administrative approval. We will strengthen the mutual oversight between higher- and lower-level authorities, get oversight bodies such as supervision and auditing departments to fully play their role, and conscientiously accept oversight by all sectors of society. We will adhere to the administrative accountability system and government performance management system. The competence of public servants will be strengthened. We will strictly enforce the law and the code of conduct for government employees and resolutely put a stop to non-compliance with government decrees and continued occurrences of banned practices. We will strive to make government affairs more open by enhancing the government information release system and improving the various types of administrative systems for transparency in government affairs to increase the transparency of government functions and create conditions to enable the people to oversee the government more effectively.
Fourth, we will strengthen efforts to ensure clean government. We will attach even greater importance to combating corruption and encouraging integrity, and fight corruption unequivocally. We will effectively improve the system for preventing and punishing corruption in accordance with the principle of addressing both the symptoms and root causes of corruption and taking a dual approach that combines prevention and punishment, with the emphasis on prevention. In particular, we need to tackle the problems of excessive concentration of power and lack of checks on power. We will address fundamentals to improve regulations and institutions and standardize management of public resources such as transfer payments, development of land and mineral resources, government procurement and the transfer of state-owned assets. We will strengthen special campaigns to address people's pressing concerns related to problems concerning environmental protection, food and drug safety, workplace safety, land acquisition and expropriation, and housing demolition, to resolutely stop irregular practices that hurt public interests. We will strongly advocate hard work and plain living and firmly oppose extravagance and waste. We will prosecute all violations of the law and discipline, strictly curb bribery in business, resolutely bring corrupt people to justice and prosecute them to the full extent of the law.
Fellow Deputies,
China is a unified, multiethnic country. We must promote unity among all ethnic groups and make a concerted effort to achieve prosperity and development for all. We will follow and improve the system of regional ethnic autonomy, promote economic and social development of ethnic minorities and ethnic minority areas, and consolidate and develop socialist ethnic relations of equality, unity, mutual assistance and harmony. We will faithfully follow the Party's basic principles on work related to religions, adhere to the Regulations on Religious Affairs, and enable religious figures and religious believers to play a positive role in advancing economic and social development. We need to do a good job handling affairs related to overseas Chinese nationals in the new era and make full use of the role of overseas Chinese nationals, returned overseas Chinese nationals and their relatives in China's modernization and the great cause of peaceful reunification of the motherland.
Improving national defense and the military is a strategic task in developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. We must balance economic development and national defense development to make China prosperous and the armed forces strong as we carry out modernization. We must always follow the guidance of Mao Zedong's military thinking, Deng Xiaoping's thinking on building the army in the new period and Jiang Zemin's thinking on strengthening the national defense and the army, truly implement the important guidelines of Comrade Hu Jintao on national defense and the army under the new circumstances, and take the Scientific Outlook on Development as an important guiding principle for developing national defense and the army. Our aim is to enable the army to fully carry out its historic mission in the new stage in the new century, enhance its ability to respond to security threats and accomplish a diverse array of military tasks, staunchly protect China's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity, and provide strong support for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. We will strengthen efforts to improve the People's Armed Police Force to improve its ability to enforce the law, respond to emergencies, combat terrorism and safeguard stability. We will intensify national defense education to raise public awareness of the importance of national defense. We will improve the national defense mobilization system. We will strengthen unity between the military and the government and between the military and the people.
We will continue to unswervingly adhere to the principle of "one country, two systems,” under which Hong Kong people administer Hong Kong and Macao people administer Macao with a high degree of autonomy, and act in strict accordance with the basic laws of the two special administrative regions. We will give full support to the governments of the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions in administering their regions in accordance with the law, and increase exchange and cooperation between the mainland and the two special administrative regions in economic and trade affairs, environmental protection, science and technology, education, culture, health and sports. We firmly believe that our compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao will be able to do even better in administering and developing their respective regions.
We will adhere to the basic principle of "peaceful reunification and one country, two systems" and follow all policies for developing relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits and promoting China's peaceful reunification under the current circumstances. We will pursue the goal of promoting peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, encourage compatriots on both sides to increase contacts and common understanding, actively promote cross-Straits economic and cultural exchanges, and work for the resumption of direct links of mail, transport and trade. We will implement and improve the policies and measures designed to benefit our compatriots in Taiwan and support economic development on the west coast of the Straits in Fujian Province and in other areas where Taiwan investment is concentrated. We will work for the early resumption of cross-Straits negotiations on the basis of the one-China principle to address major issues of concern to compatriots on both sides. We firmly oppose Taiwan independence secessionist activities, and will never allow anyone to separate Taiwan from the motherland in any guise or by any means. Any issue that concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity must be decided by all the Chinese people, including our Taiwan compatriots. The attempts of Taiwan independence secessionist forces to deny the reality that the mainland and Taiwan belong to one and the same China and to undermine peace in the Taiwan Straits are doomed to fail. Reunification of the two sides is inevitable in the course of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. With the concerted efforts of all Chinese people at home and overseas, the great cause of China's reunification will surely be achieved!
In the coming year, we must continue to hold high the banner of peace, development and cooperation, follow an independent foreign policy of peace and a path of peaceful development, and adhere to the win-win strategy of opening up to promote the building of a harmonious world with durable peace and common prosperity. We will work hard to develop relations with developed countries, deepen good-neighborly relations and friendship with all neighboring countries, and redouble efforts to increase unity and cooperation with other developing countries. We will actively participate in multilateral diplomacy, work to find appropriate solutions to major hotspots and global issues, and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese nationals and companies overseas. The Chinese government and people are ready to share development opportunities with people of all other countries and to work with them to address risks and challenges and advance the noble cause of the peace and development of humanity.
Fellow Deputies,
Looking back, we are encouraged by the achievements of the past five years. Looking ahead, we see an exciting future for China. Our great motherland has embarked upon a new historical course and the future holds even brighter prospects. Under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Hu Jintao as General Secretary, let us hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, follow the guidance of Deng Xiaoping Theory and the important thought of Three Represents, and comprehensively apply the Scientific Outlook on Development. Let us free our minds, carry out reform and innovation, and work diligently for greater achievements in the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects!