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)