4. Respecting the important position of NPC deputies and making better use of their role

Deputies to the NPC are members of the country's highest organ of state power. The NPC cannot perform its work well without giving full play to its deputies. We took upholding and improving the system of people's congresses as our starting point, respected the important role of deputies, and maintained an attitude of serving them. We further improved our work system, strived to improve the level of our services to deputies, supported deputies in the lawful exercise of their duties, ensured they were able to do so, and made better use of their role.

1) We diligently handled deputies' bills and proposals. We effectively combined the work of handling deputies' bills and proposals with Standing Committee work and ensured deputies fully played their role. Special committees dealt with 518 bills assigned to deputies by the Presidium of the Second Session of the Eleventh NPC. Of these bills, 13 involved six laws, all of which have been deliberated by the Standing Committee; 34 involved six laws that are now being deliberated by the Standing Committee; and 249 involved 42 legislative items that have been included in the legislative plan. Deputies made 7,426 proposals, comments and suggestions, and we have either resolved or made plans to resolve problems raised in 5,523 of them, 74.4% of the total.

2) We further expanded deputies' participation in the work of the Standing Committee and special committees. In order to hear all the comments and suggestions of deputies and increase the vitality of the NPC's work, the Standing Committee invites deputies and heads of groups of deputies making bills to attend its meetings as observers, and special committees invite deputies to attend their plenary meetings, special-topic meetings, forums, and debates. The Standing Committee also invites deputies from different backgrounds to participate in inspections on compliance with laws and investigations and studies on special topics. More than 400 deputies participated in these activities last year. Deputies attending meetings as observers and participating in such activities carefully prepared in advance and actively contributed to the discussions. This gave the people a voice and played an important role in improving the quality of the work of the Standing Committee and special committees.

3) We continued to improve services to deputies. We organized inspection tours for more than 1,800 deputies and investigations and studies on special topics for over 1,900 others. These activities resulted in more than 100 reports. We arranged for deputies from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan to go on inspection tours and carry out investigations and studies on the mainland. We formed 264 deputy activity groups, and held six training sessions on special topics for more than 1,200 deputies. We improved our work of ensuring that deputies receive the services they require.