Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday urged government officials to listen more, talk less and be pragmatic when attending the meetings of the legislature and political advisory body.

Wen made the remarks when joining a panel discussion of members of the Tenth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's political advisory body.

The Fifth Session of the Tenth CPPCC National Committee started in Beijing on Saturday, and the annual full session of the Tenth National People's Congress (NPC), or the top legislature, is scheduled to begin on Monday.

"Government officials shall listen more, talk less and be pragmatic when attending NPC and CPPCC meetings, which concerns not only a sense of democracy, but also the government's willingness to get supervised," Wen said.

"To listen more means you listen to criticism, proposals and suggestions from all sides, especially those from the grass roots," he said.

"To talk less means you do not give instructions (at the meetings) and do not indulge in empty talk. To talk less does not mean you do not talk at all, but that you need seriously answer the inquiries and handle the views of NPC deputies and CPPCC members, and inform them of government work in a practical and realistic manner," the premier said.

"To be pragmatic means you shall actively consider the motions and proposals raised by NPC deputies and CPPCC members, and make sure every motion and proposal be handled well, so as to improve the work of the government," Wen said.

At the panel discussion, CPPCC National Committee members from the economy and agriculture sectors discussed housing, energy saving, pollutant reduction, food safety, rural credit, the development of west China, agriculture technology, and the going-global strategy of enterprises, among other issues.

(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2007)