China leadership change to wrap up
Iran Press TV
Tue Mar 5, 2013 6:15AM GMT
China's National People's Congress has kicked off in the capital Beijing to see the final stage of the country's once-in-a-decade leadership change process.
Outgoing Premier Wen Jiabao officially opened the gathering on Tuesday by delivering his work report which mainly focused on the status and achievements of the Chinese economy.
Wen said that the emerging economy would no longer emphasize growth at all costs and would focus further on social programs.
"We must make ensuring and improving people's wellbeing the starting point and goal of all the government's work, give entire priority to it, and strive to strengthen social development," Wen said during his speech to the national legislature before stepping down.
The outgoing premier said that boosting domestic consumption is a "long-term strategy for economic development" of the world's second-largest economy.
He noted the country set an unchanged growth target of 7.5 percent for 2013.
Wen also vowed stable growth, anti-corruption efforts and better welfare provision.
Towards the end of the two-week event, Communist Party chief Xi Jinping will replace Hu Jintao as China's new president.
The congress is attended by around 3,000 delegates, including members of the military, monks, ethnic minority representatives and business leaders. The majority are members of China's Communist Party.
They are expected to approve plans to restructure several government departments as well as to amend long-standing social, economic and military policies.
DB/HN
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