Chinese legislators have decided to initiate the proceedings to question ministerial officials face to face about government work this year, in a major step forward in carrying out their supervisory role.

Top legislator Wu Bangguo said Tuesday that the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, would hear State Council departments' reports on issues of widespread concern among NPC deputies.

Wu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, said in the report on the work of the committee that they would also ask top leaders from those departments to "listen to suggestions, respond to inquiries and answer questions" raised by legislators.

He added that the decision was made on the basis of the Law on Oversight and the guiding principles of the Decision of the NPC Standing Committee on Intensifying Oversight of Economic Work.

"Inquiries and interrogations are legal means by which people's congresses oversee governments, courts and procuratorates," he said.

Wu said the NPC Standing Committee needs to carry out its oversight of economic work this year, focusing on accelerating the transformation of the economic development pattern and improving and upgrading the country's industrial structure.

The committee also needs to focus on solving the most practical problems of the "utmost" and "immediate" concern to the people and urge responsible authorities to correctly handle the relationship between economic development and people's well being, Wu said.

Further, Wu said the committee would urge the government to implement policies and measures to support emerging industries, promote restructuring and foster new areas of economic growth.

The committee plans, by checking compliance with laws, to encourage key industries to carry out technological upgrades aimed at conserving energy, reducing consumption and developing a circular economy, as well as improve and upgrade traditional industries, Wu said.

Wu also vowed to help increase China's independent capacity to be innovative and promote the application of scientific and technological advances in production, through helping improve the system of innovation.

Also, investigations would be carried out on the implementation of the central government's investment plans to ensure smooth progress of major projects, Wu said.

In terms of overseeing the handling of issues affecting people's well being, Wu said the Standing Committee would always put people first, promote social equality and justice, and foster a culture of harmony.

"At present, Chinese society is generally harmonious, but there are a number of disparities that affect social harmony," Wu said.

The Standing Committee would also inspect progress in the implementation of recent key reforms on medical care and promote equal access to basic public health care services and the pilot reform of public hospitals, he said.

Other issues concerning people's well being that are on the Standing Committee's agenda include major problems faced by rural migrant workers, equal rights for women, and ethnic relations that include equality, unity, mutual assistance and harmony.

Wu also promised to help courts and procuratorates improve their work and safeguard judicial impartiality, social equality and justice.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2010)