We strengthened the NPC’s information and publicity work. Through the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the NPC, China’s first National Constitution Day, and the 30th anniversary of the promulgation of the Law on Regional Ethnic Autonomy, as well as other important activities, we worked hard to enhance public knowledge about China’s fundamental political system, its basic political systems, and the fundamental law of the country by holding symposiums and forums, producing documentaries, and publishing chronicles of historic events.

We worked to better publicize and give deeper explanations on the NPC’s work, such as its legislative, oversight, and diplomatic work as well as its work related to deputies. We also actively publicized representative cases and examples of work within local people’s congresses to demonstrate the achievements and diligence of their deputies and staff.

We redoubled our self-improvement efforts. We consistently gave top priority to improving ourselves both theoretically and politically so that we are firm on our shared ideals and convictions and on our political standing, strictly observe the Party’s political discipline and regulations, progress in our political awareness, and enhance our awareness of the overall interests of the nation, of shouldering responsibility, and of daring to take on tasks. In compliance with the requirement to constantly improve conduct, we faithfully followed the CPC Central Committee’s eight-point decision on improving Party and government conduct; consolidated and expanded the results achieved in the campaign to study and practice the Party’s mass line; and made persistent and determined efforts to help improve Party conduct, uphold integrity, and combat corruption.

We improved the organization of Standing Committee meetings and arranged meetings according to the specific agendas at hand in an effort to raise the quality of deliberation. As members of the Standing Committee were more fully prepared, they were more eager to express their opinions at meetings, and their deliberations were better targeted and produced more tangible results. The system for collective study among members of the Leading Party Members’ Group of the Standing Committee was improved, Standing Committee seminars were better organized, and it was ensured that subjects were carefully selected and decided. The principles of learning for the purpose of application, integrating learning with practice, and reviewing practice to promote learning were strongly promoted.

We improved our leadership over the work of special committees while giving full play to the role of these committees. Focusing on the central work of the NPC and its Standing Committee, the special committees diligently studied, deliberated on, and prepared bills; actively conducted inspections of the enforcement of laws, research on special topics, and follow-up oversight; and strengthened deliberation of proposals put forward by NPC deputies and oversight over the handling of their suggestions, thereby contributing to improving the NPC’s work.

The bodies of the NPC continued to improve themselves in terms of political integrity, work style, institutions, and competence, and their officials and staff further fortified their ideals and convictions and improved their conduct. All the efforts in this regard have provided an excellent guarantee for serving the NPC and its Standing Committee in performing their functions and duties and carrying out their work in accordance with the law.

Fellow Deputies,

The Standing Committee’s achievements and progress last year were made under the correct leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as General Secretary and are the result of the joint efforts and hard work of NPC deputies, members of the NPC Standing Committee and special committees, and the staff of the bodies of the NPC; the active help and close cooperation of the State Council, the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate, and the local people’s congresses at all levels and their standing committees; and the full trust and support of the people of all of China’s ethnic groups. On behalf of the NPC Standing Committee, I would like to express sincere gratitude to you all.

We are keenly aware that the Standing Committee’s work still leaves a lot to be desired in terms of the requirement for developing the cause of the Party and the country and in terms of the expectations of the deputies and the Chinese people. Some laws are not practical or effective enough to solve real problems; in some cases, oversight work is either not complete or not conducted effectively; and the scope of work related to deputies needs to be expanded while the way we carry out this work needs to be diversified. We will willingly accept the oversight of deputies and the general public, seek comments and suggestions from all sectors of society with an open mind, and constantly strengthen and improve the work of the NPC so that we better perform our functions and powers and carry out our work in accordance with the law.