Top Chinese leaders attended panel discussions of lawmakers Monday and congratulated female deputies to the national legislature and women all over the country on the occasion of the International Women's Day, which falls on March 8.

President Hu Jintao joined legislators from the northeastern province of Liaoning in their panel discussion and urged introduction of a scientific approach to invigoration of the rust belt province, the country's industrial base where a big number of workers are laid off from state-owned enterprises.

To carry out the policy of putting people first, Hu said, leading cadres of the province should work hard to resolve problems the people concern most. "What is of particular importance at present is to pay great attention to employment and reemployment, accelerate the building of a social security system and improve the urban basic living allowances system so that the people who can not find a job at the moment or face difficulties in their livelihood can keep a basic living standard."

Premier Wen Jiabao, joining lawmakers from Shaanxi Province in their panel discussion, called for greater endeavor to transform government functions for balanced economic and social development, saying that governments at various levels should manage their business well and leave what they should not be involved in.

Wu Guanzheng, head of the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s Central Discipline Inspection Commission, participated in discussion of deputies from Yunnan Province and focused his speech on Party building and a clean government, urging efforts to resolve problems concerning the people's immediate interests.

During discussion with legislators from Sichuan Province, Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, concentrated on deepening reforms in the cultural field and developing advanced socialist culture.

Luo Gan, also a member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee, called for efforts to promote harmonized social and economic development when he exchanged views with lawmakers from Hebei Province.

(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2004)