Seven we made continuous efforts to improve government conduct, be diligent, honest and clean and enhance the government image. We did timely research to resolve severe problems, held 20 routine conferences, made plans on 89 issues concerning the reform and development, and resolved 165 long existing problems. We received supervision from the Ningxia People’s Congress and CPPCCNingxia Committee, and accepted suggestions from democratic parties, the federations of industry and commerce, personages without party affiliation, people's organizations and people from all sectors of society. We submitted 5 local rules and regulations for Ningxia People’s Congress’ deliberation and got enacted. We established 9 government regulations. The proposals and suggestions put forward by deputies to the Ningxia People’s Congressand CPPCC Ningxia Committee members were all handled and 96.7% of people's complaints expressed in letters or visits were solved. The irregular usage of official vehicles and luxurious offices occupied against discipline were dealt with in a serious way. Spending by government bodies on official overseas visits, official vehicles, and official hospitality was reduced by 21.6%. We investigated and punished those violating the CPC Central Committee's EightRules. The notices of criticism were circulated across the region on 29 typical cases. The interaction between the mass and the government through TV and micro-blog was promoted in cities and counties, with 35,000 cases handles and 340 people brought to justice. The government conduct was greatly improved in an all-round way.

Last year, we stepped up defense mobilization in accordance with the National Defence Monization Law, launching a dual support drive for civilians to support the army and give preferential treatment to families of revolutionary army men and martyres, and for the armed forces to support the government and cherish the people.We advanced social management innovation, safety oversight and ethnic unity, and exchanged experiences at the Central Conference on Ethnic AffairsWork. The undertakings of foreign affairs, overseas Chinese affairs, statistics, charity, senior citizens, women, children and people with disabilities all made great progress. We also achieved a lot in earthquake prediction and relief, geology and minerals, civil air defense, meteorology, archives, culture, history and other social sciences.

Fellow deputies, last year, the external situation was adverse; the downward pressure increased and the structural imbalance became severe. We faced up with those difficulties, sustained pressures and stood the test. Though the GDP growth rate was slowed down, it was still higher than the national average speed. Especially the launching of several key projects laid a solid basis for long-term development in Ningxia. The achievements we made did not come easily. We owe them to the great care of CPC Central Committee and the State Council, the correct leadership of the Regional Party Committee as well as to the support of Regional People’s Congress and CPPCC Ningxia Committee, the concerted efforts of the people across the whole region. On behalf of the government of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, I express our sincere gratitude to the general public from all walks of life, all the Regional People’s Congress deputies and CPPCC Ningxia Committee members, the democratic parties, the federations of industry and commerce and people from all sectors of society. I express our heartfelt appreciation to central government units, People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and armed policemen in Ningxia. I also express our sincere thanks to state ministries, fraternal provinces and cities, compatriots in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, our Taiwan compatriots, and overseas Chinese and international friends that support Ningxia in its development.

Currently, the three periods, namely gear shift period of economic growth, throe period of structural readjustment and spur policy digestion period, superimposed domestically. It should be clearly noted that we are still confronted with many difficulties and challenges. First, the adverse factors hampering economic growth keep growing. The downward pressure is increasing and the foundation for sustaining steady economic growth is not yet firm. Second, we are faced with daunting structural readjustment and upgrading tasks, weak scientific innovation capacity and inflexible market mechanisms and systems. Difficulties in corporation production still exist and resources and environmental restrictions become more severe. It is hard to meet some of the 39 comprehensive indexes, such as the energy consumption per 10,000 yuan GDP and the main pollutants emission. Third, the new-type urbanization level, urban management and environment all need improvement. Fourth, the income of urban residents is not high and the public services could not meet people’s needs. There are also many weak points in improving people’s wellbeing. The poverty alleviation is still challenging. Starting businesses and innovation could not be conducted in a friendly environment. Fifth, we still need to transform government functions, deepen the reform, streamline administration and delegate more power to lower-level governments. The shirking, neglect and omission of official duty still exist or even prevail in some areas. We should analyze, treat and resolve those problems in a practical way.