We will thoroughly implement the system whereby we maintain direct contact with NPC deputies, and solicit and give expression to, by multiple means, their comments and suggestions on the Standing Committee’s legislative and oversight work. We will improve our efforts to brief deputies on the Standing Committee’s important initiatives and solicit their opinions. We will promote the establishment of permanent mechanisms allowing deputies to observe Standing Committee meetings, participate in inspections of compliance with laws, and join the activities of special committees and working committees, making sure that all local-level deputies to the NPC have at least one opportunity to sit in on a Standing Committee meeting. In addition, we will establish a mechanism under which we solicit the opinions of deputies and people from all sectors of society before deliberating the national economic and social development plan and government budgets. We will organize specific-topic study sessions for deputies. We will urge the State Council, the Supreme People’s Court, and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate to strengthen their ties with deputies and open up more channels for deputies to learn about state affairs and the government’s work.

We will formulate guidelines on improving the system by which NPC deputies maintain contact with the people, enhance working and online platforms to facilitate contact between deputies and the public, establish a sound mechanism for relevant government departments to handle and give feedback on the comments and requests from the public that have been referred by deputies, and establish broader channels for the expression of social conditions and public sentiment, so as to give full play to the role that deputies play as a bridge between the government and the people.

In line with the CPC Central Committee’s guidance on strengthening and improving the deputy-related work of the NPC, we will work to enhance the political integrity and conduct of deputies and support electoral bodies in strengthening their law-based supervision over deputies’ fulfillment of their duties, so as to ensure that deputies cherish the power granted to them by the people, carry out their duties in strict accordance with the law, observe the Constitution and other laws in an exemplary manner, and take the initiative in upholding common moral values.

In accordance with the overall principles and plans of the CPC Central Committee for the country’s diplomatic work, we will strengthen the planning and management of the NPC’s foreign relations work, giving priorities to developing contact with the parliaments of major countries, China’s neighbors, and other developing countries. We will expand the scope of mechanism-based regular exchanges with foreign parliaments and explore more diverse ways of conducting exchanges. In addition to top-level exchanges, we will also make full use of exchanges at various other levels, such as those conducted by NPC special committees, friendship groups, and local people’s congresses. We will also promote multilateral contacts with foreign parliaments. We will make sure that these initiatives not only enhance China’s international influence and its weight in international discourse, but comply with and serve the Belt and Road Initiative and China’s overall development.

We will improve the NPC’s information and publicity work. We will channel great energy into publicizing the system of people’s congresses; strengthen publicity and explanation of the NPC’s work regarding legislation, oversight, decision making, and election; and intensify activities to illustrate how exemplary NPC deputies perform their duties and how the work of local people’s congresses is carried out. We will explore new ways of carrying out the NPC’s publicity work, giving full expression to the functions of both traditional and emerging media, so as to improve the effectiveness of our publicity initiatives.

We will advance the NPC’s theoretical research work, increasing our efforts to study and explain the new theories and practices with regard to upholding and improving the system of people’s congresses and fully advancing the law-based governance of China developed by the CPC Central Committee headed by General Secretary Xi Jinping since the 18th National Party Congress. We will enhance the development of think tanks for the NPC’s theoretical research, and actively study the features and underlying laws of the NPC’s work. These efforts will help to provide theoretical and intellectual support for the sound performance of the NPC under new circumstances.

We will maintain close ties with and provide guidance for local people’s congresses. We will urge local people’s congresses to fully implement the CPC Central Committee’s guidelines on strengthening the work and development of people’s congresses at the county and township levels. We will maintain close contact and improve coordination with local people’s congresses, and strengthen guidance over their work, so as to maximize the overall efficiency of people’s congresses. We will hold a national forum on local legislation, continue to provide training on the revised Legislation Law, and better guide local people’s congresses in their legislative work.

We will ensure that a good job is done in the elections of new people’s congresses at county and township levels across the country. Adhering to the Party’s leadership, we will fully promote democracy, follow procedures in strict accordance with the law, and strengthen guidance and monitoring of the election work, in order to ensure that elections are held honestly and election results meet public expectations.

We will further strengthen the self-improvement of the Standing Committee, conscientiously uphold the Party’s leadership, and ensure that political discipline and rules are strictly observed. We will work to raise our awareness of the need to uphold political integrity, keep in mind the bigger picture, follow the CPC as the core of the Chinese leadership, and act consistently with CPC Central Committee policy as we perform our duties and functions in accordance with the CPC Central Committee’s decisions and plans. In addition, we will work toward the establishment of a permanent effective mechanism for practicing the Three Stricts and Three Honests; launch a drive to help our Party members better meet Party standards by studying the Party Constitution, Party regulations, and General Secretary Xi Jinping’s major speeches; and make unremitting efforts to improve our work style, foster integrity, and create a healthy political environment.

Fellow Deputies,The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation beckons us on the horizon, and the great mission of finishing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects is inspiring us to press forward. Rallying even closer around the CPC Central Committee headed by General Secretary Xi Jinping, let us set our sights on the future, keep our feet firmly on the ground, and forge ahead with confidence and determination, so as to ensure that China’s economic and social development gets off to a good start in the 13th Five-Year Plan period, that we clinch success in the decisive push to finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and that the Chinese Dream of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation can be fulfilled.?