Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Friday concrete and prudent
efforts will be made this year to promote political restructuring,
develop socialist democracy and improve the socialist legal system,
on the road of strengthening democracy and the legal system and
safeguarding national security and social stability.
"We will further expand democracy at the lowest levels of
government, improve self-governance by villagers and urban
residents, and respect the democratic rights of the government
authorities and people at the lowest levels of government," Wen
said in his report on the government work at the national
legislature's annual session.
"We will uphold and improve the system of workers' conferences
and other systems of democratic management practiced in government
institutions and enterprises and protect the legitimate rights and
interests of workers," while continuing to carefully carry out work
related to ethnic minorities, religious groups and overseas
Chinese, he said.
In order to promote common prosperity and progress for all our
ethnic groups, the state will increase support for economic and
social development in ethnic minority areas and intensify training
of ethnic minorities in all fields of work.
He pledged to fully implement the policy of freedom of religious
belief, handle religious affairs in accordance with the law, help
religious organizations adhere to the principle of independence and
self-governance, and actively guide religions to adapt to socialist
society.
"We will improve our work concerning overseas Chinese, their
relatives in China and returned overseas Chinese, and fully utilize
their unique role in promoting the reunification of the motherland
and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," said the premier.
Priority should be given to legislation for dealing with
emergencies, protecting farmers' rights and interests, safeguarding
employment and social security and developing social
undertakings.
"We will work hard to improve the quality of government
legislation. We must solicit opinions from all sectors of society
when drafting important laws and administrative regulations that
affect the vital interests of the people. We will work to improve
legal and notary services and carefully carry out legal assistance
work," he said.
The legitimate rights and interests of women, minors and the
handicapped shall be protected as prescribed by law, he said.
"We will increase publicity and education concerning the law in
order to create a good social environment in which the people study
the law, understand the legal system and abide by the law," the
premier said.
(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2004)
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