"By 5 p.m. Sunday, the session's deadline for accepting proposals, we had received 3,668 proposals submitted by members of the CPPCC National Committee in individual capacity or on behalf of their organizations," said Huang Guoping, deputy director of the office of the proposal handling division under the CPPCC National Committee.

The proposals cover a wide range of issues, which include national economic construction, urban and rural development, environmental protection, social security, employment, social credibility and the widening income gap, said Huang.

"In general, an overwhelming majority of the proposals focus on one central theme. All CPPCC members who submitted proposals have displayed an earnest and sincere attitude, and many of their proposals are highly scientific and feasible, " Huang noted.

As the 10th CPPCC National Committee has many new members, the proposal handling division had sent a letter to every member prior to the session, offering necessary advice on proposal writing, said Huang.

"Also enclosed in the letter are excellent proposals submitted to the previous CPPCC sessions, which a few inexperienced new members could use as a reference," he added.

The proposals, or suggestions and reports in the written form, are a traditional channel for the CPPCC National Committee members to assist the government in running the State.

According to regular procedures, all proposals submitted to the session will have to be examined and sorted out by a special committee under the CPPCC National Committee, and then forwarded to relevant government departments. And every proposal would be replied timely and in an appropriate manner.

(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2003)