Between January 30 and February 8 Premier Wen Jiabao presided over five meetings to seek advice on a draft government work report.

Suggestions were gathered for the report from the leaders of the eight non-Communist parties, the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, experts and scholars from all walks of life as well as grassroots representatives.

The report will be tabled at the Fifth Session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) in early March.

Wen thanked those involved for their care and support for government work. He said the State Council would earnestly research and adopt their good advice and suggestions.

Different levels of governments should put people first and make efforts to solve problems the masses are concerned about, he said.

Representatives from state-owned and private enterprises voiced their views on the deepening of SOE reforms and ways to improve company management, saying a sound macro environment was conducive to the development of enterprises.

Education experts hoped the government would set aside adequate capital next year to fund the country's compulsory education.

Representatives also offered advice on the improvement of the agricultural insurance system, ensuring migrant workers get paid and enhancing the rural medical system.

(Xinhua News Agency February 9, 2007)