Chinese leaders stress reform in discussions with lawmakers, advisors

Premier Li Keqiang and other Chinese leaders on Thursday joined lawmakers and political advisors in examination and deliberation of a government work report, calling for efforts to push reform.

The report was delivered by Li at the opening of the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, on Wednesday.

In his discussion with NPC deputies from Shandong Province, Li noted that China still faces a severe and complicated economic landscape this year, and he urged stable and sound growth through reform and innovation.

He said the government should leave what can be handled by the market to the market, and create a fair environment for enterprises to release market vitality and social creativity.

Reform and development should benefit all the people, Li said.

In his discussion with lawmakers from Qinghai, Li said it is imperative to keep a balance between economic growth and ecological protection in the ecologically fragile province, where lie the headstreams of China's three major water courses, the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers.

Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body, joined advisors from the Zhigong Party and those representing personages with no party affiliation.

He urged the political advisors to focus on the deepening of reform and other issues of broad public concern when making proposals for the government.

Yu also attended a discussion of the NPC deputies of Taiwan origin, calling for efforts for peaceful development of mainland-Taiwan ties.

Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli called for greater courage to push reforms in various areas when he joined the discussion of the lawmakers from Tianjin Municipality.

He said that the market's role in resources allocation should be brought into full play, and urged major progress in the fiscal and tax reform this year.