ISSUE 2 2010 NPCNational People’s Congress of China NPC witnesses China’s democratic development 3 Wu Bangguo, chairman of the 11th NPC Standing Committee, chairs the 45th Chairmen's Council meeting of the committee at the Great Hall of the People on June 11, 2010. Ma Zengke 2 The 15th session of the 11th NPC Standing Committee is held on June 22-25, 2010 at the Great Hall of the People. Ma Zengke 3 Contents NPC and Democracy 6 15 22 NPC witnesses China’s Promote fairness and justice People’s Congress system balanc- democratic development through legislation es democracy and efficiency 12 19 25 Legislation opens door to the People’s livelihood keystone for Deputy composition indicates public Chinese legislative work democracy in nature 4 NPC Adviser-In-General: Li Jianguo Advisers: Wang Wanbin, Yang Jingyu, Jiang Enzhu, Qiao Xiaoyang, Nan Zhenzhong, Li Zhaoxing Lu Congmin, Wang Yingfan, Ji Peiding, Cao Weizhou Chief of Editorial Board: Li Lianning Members of Editorial Board: Yin Zhongqing, Xin Chunying, Shen Chunyao, Ren Maodong, Zhu Xueqing, Kan Ke, Peng Fang, Wang Tiemin, Yang Ruixue, Gao Qi, Zhao Jie Xu Yan Chief Editor: Wang Tiemin Vice-Chief Editors: Gao Qi, Xu Yan Executive Editor: Xu Yan Vice-Executive Editor: Zhang Baoshan Copy Editor: Jiang Zhuqing Layout Designers: Liu Tingting, Chen Yuye General Editorial Office Address: 23 Xijiaominxiang,Xicheng District Beijing 100805,P.R.China Tel: (86-10)6309-8540 (86-10)8308-4419 E-mail: [email protected] ISBN 1674-3008 CN 11-5683/D Price:RMB35 Edited by The People’s Congresses Journal Published by The People’s Congresses Journal Printed by C&C Joint Printing Co.,(Beijing) Ltd. in China Supervision Picture Special Report 27 35 36 Review of law enforcement: 2010 Shanghai Expo Rebuilding efforts in A focus on women’s quests quake-stricken Yushu blueprint brings new hope Legislation Cover photo: On March 5, 2010, the 3rd Session 42 30 of the 11th NPC opens at the Great Hall Laws to effect in 2010 of the People in Beijing. Venue of the Xinjiang eyes new development 3rd Session of the 11th NPC .CFP opportunities 5 NPC and Democracy NPC witnesses China’s democratic development By Zhang Baoshan Photographers cover the ongoing 3rd Session of the 11th NPC. Xinhua 6 o look at the development of de- mocracy and legality in China, we may take the work and meetings of Tthe National People’s Congress (NPC) as a miniature of it, for which is operated in an open way, too. In retrospect, the First Session of the Fourth NPC was held abnormally and se- cretly in 1975, with no media allowed to report, leaving people no right to know it at all. By Zhang Baoshan After the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Com- munist Party of China (1978), the NPC system was resumed and developed pro- gressively, the meetings of NPC began to be opened to the public. With the orderly promotion of Chinese democracy, the mysterious veil of the NPC At the invitation of the press center of the 11th NPC Standing Committee 2nd Session, an online ex- change is held between Internet users and six NPC delegates from grass-roots level, Xu Qiang, Zhu has already been taken off gradually. The Xueqin, Hu Xiaoyan, Kang Houming, Bi Hongzhen and Wang Jing on the evening of March 10, 2009. NPC is opening up, and get- Yang Zongyou ting closer to people’s life. years, the will of the people on network re- From the formulation and ceives unprecedented attention. revision of laws to the su- “The title of the deputy to the “Could you tell me whether you are paid pervision of the government, NPC is a post, not a job, thus or get some subsidy for the duty as a mem- the court and the procura- ber to the NPC? If not, how do you solve torate, all issues concern- there is no salary.” the problem of expenditure for this duty? ing people's livelihood are If yes, how much is the general figure, and involved in the work of the whether it is enough to cover your duty?” NPC, while openness and transparency be- way. The public has seen how the members Wang Ming, an Internet user of people.com, come two features of it. of the NPC and its Standing Committee re- asked. Looking back to the history of the NPC, flect people's voice in discussing State af- “NPC deputy is a part-time job instead we can all feel its opening-up tendency, for fairs, and how they supervise and solve the of a full-time one, and I have no salary for example, the soliciting of social-opinions problems concerning people's livelihood. it,” Bi Hongzhen answered. She is a NPC on draft bills and the constant and in-depth In fact, in recent years, opening-up has deputy, coming from Bulimia Village of report of special investigations, the normal- become a highlight in the development of Baibiao Township, Pingliang, Gansu Prov- ization of press conference and the explo- China's People’s Congress system. The ince. ration of some new forms such as feature prosperity of political ecology can be con- “The title of the deputy to the NPC is a press conference and network interview, sidered as one of the markers of democratic post, not a job, thus there is no salary. Each etc. society, including political opening and collective inspection, law enforcement and We can see that, no matter in or out ses- transparency and full respect to the will of inspection, and attendance to conference sion, the NPC makes people hear more from the people. will be supported by financial funds,” Wang it with open mind, lets people understand Jing replied, who was also a NPC deputy, a more decisions made by it, helps them to NPC gives full play to bus driver from the 5th Company of Wuhan know that the NPC is open and transparent Transit Group in Hubei Province. instead of mysterious and closed-up. the role of network On March 10, 2009, the NPC was still in Meanwhile, we can see that, in course session. At 8 pm, six grass-roots deputies – of opening-up, the NPC is playing its func- The establishment of on-line interview Xu Qiang, Zhu Xueqin, Hu Xiaoyan, Kang tions entrusted by the Constitution and re- room is a highlight of the opening and trans- Houming, Bi Hongzhen and Wang Jing, flecting the rule by the people in a better parency of the meetings of NPC. In recent were answering the online questions pro- 7 NPC and Democracy for the first time, including 33 delegations, up to 35 group sessions were publicized to foreign correspondence. – In 2007, during the 5th Session of the 10th NPC, the detailed information of each delegation residence was offered on internet. For the first time, foreign report- ers were allowed to contact and interview deputies directly. It was also the first time to publish the phone numbers of the news liai- son for each delegation. For the first time; meanwhile, an on-line system began to be adopted for interview application and con- tact. An English version of the Work Report of the Standing Committee of the NPC was offered for the first time. – In 2007, also during the 5th Session of the 10th NPC a network live broadcast- NPC Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo pays a visit to Anhui Conch Cement Co., Ltd in July ing of the review conference of Beijing and 2009. Li Tao Shanghai delegations was realized, which will be car- posed by Internet friends. All participants ried out year on year. were quite active and enthusiastic. – In 2008, offering free Netizens’ questions covered how to “We make every effort to ar- TV signal and photo service cope with the challenge of international fi- range each interviews in a to the media. As a prime set- nancial crisis, how to strengthen the work ting to understand the devel- of legislation and supervision of the NPC, much more transparent way.” opment of China's policy, how to fulfill the duty of deputies, how to People's congress system give full play to their functions, and how vividly explains the conno- to further forward judicial fairness, etc. tation of Chinese democracy with an open The views of the NPC deputies evoked a correspondents can apply for interview, or posture. “We make every effort to arrange strong reaction in the whole country, mak- check residence information, get access to each interviews in a much more transpar- ing Internet a discussion room for com- the schedule on the net. The on-line press ent way, offer more convenient and high- mon people to participate in the work of center has provided a green pass for corre- efficient service for reporters, contribute to the NPC &CPPCC. spondents at home and abroad. During the session, this website was visited more than a more harmonious and democratic report 2,200,000 times, which explained well why of the conference, in order to publicize the Unprecedented the reporters cordially called it “a press cen- socialist democratic system in which people degree of openness ter on duty 24 hrs a day”. master one's own affairs,” The director of – Live broadcasting of Work Report of Information Office of the General Office of In China, there are more than 3,000 cor- the Standing Committee of the NPC, deliv- the NPC Standing Committee said. respondents at home and abroad to cover ered by Chairman Wu Bangguo.