BEIJING, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator has pledged support for deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) and urged them to leverage their advantages of being close to the people to better their roles as lawmakers.

Li Zhanshu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, made the remarks at a symposium with 51 NPC deputies, most of whom come from the grassroots levels, on the sidelines of a legislative session that opened Monday.

Acknowledging the overall progress of the top legislature over the year, Li pointed out that new measures have been taken by the legislature to support the deputies in doing their jobs.

The year 2020 marks the completion of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and the country's 13th Five-Year Plan, Li said, calling on NPC deputies to contribute to achieving the country's economic and social development goals set for 2020, as well as the cause of upholding and improving the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernizing China's system and capacity for governance.