ISSUE 3 · 2014 《中国人大》对外版 NPC National People’s Congress of China SIXTY YEARS ON THE MARCH On August 31 at its bi- monthly session, the Stand- ing Committee of the National People’s Congress took a decision that September 30 every year is designated Mar- tyrs’ Day, a national day to commemorate martyrs. The decision says Mar- tyrs’ Day will be marked with events across the country. The move is aimed at “pub- licizing martyrs’ achievements and spirits, and cultivating patriotism, collectivism, and socialist moralities so as to consolidate the Chinese na- Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Chi- tion’s cohesiveness,” the top nese leaders pay respects to the Monument to the People’s Heroes in Tian’anmen Square, legislature said in the decision. Beijing, September 30. Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli offered flower baskets at the monument on the first Martyrs’ Day on September 30. Huang Jingwen Gao Kangyu (C), an 89-year-old veteran, tells the story of Guayun mountain battle to the lo- cal students on September 29. Song Wei People rally to honor and remember the de- ceased national heroes at the Monument to the People’s Heroes in Tian’anmen Square, Beijing, September 30, on the occasion of the first Martyrs’ Day. Liu Jiansheng On September 29, students from Zhuhelu Elementary School in Handan, Hebei Prov- PLA soldiers present flow- ince come to a local cemetery to pay tribute ers to the martyrs buried in to revolutionary martyrs. The picture shows the Niutuozhai cemetery in a group of students are visiting the memo- Taiyuan, Shanxi Province on rial hall of General Zuo Quan. Hao Qunying September 30. Fan Minda 6 Adherence to China’s political path Contents Special Report 8 14 The System of People’s Memorable ‘firsts’ in China’s Congresses given full play 6 legislation history Adherence to China’s political path 10 22 Sixty years on the march Small stories reflect major achievements The System of People’s 8 Congresses given full play 26 38 A new chapter for democracy Partner aid to Tibet yields fruits ISSUE 3 · 2014 Supervision 34 More measures needed on adminis- trative approval reform NPC Nationality General Editorial Focus Office Address: 23 Xijiaominxiang, Xicheng District Beijing 38 100805,P.R.China 26 Partner aid to Tibet yields fruits Tel: (86-10)6309-8540 A new chapter for democracy (86-10)8308-3891 E-mail: [email protected] Legislation ISSN 1674-3008 CN 11-5683/D Price:RMB35 32 Edited by The People’s Congresses Journal Budget Law revised to rein Published by The People’s Congresses Journal in government spending Printed by Beijing Guo Cai Printing Co., Ltd. in China SPECIAL REPORT Adherence to China’s political path President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Cen- tral Military Commission, delivers a speech during a conference celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Na- tional People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing, capital of China, September 5. Xie Huanchi resident Xi Jinping on September 5 said China country’s social soil, Xi said, adding that any system should must promote socialist democracy through the be designed and developed according to a country’s actual improvement of the system of people’s congresses, conditions and situations. as the National People’s Congress (NPC), the top “China needs to draw lessons from the achievements of Plegislature, celebrates its 60th anniversary. foreign politics, but the foundations of our system should ab- While hailing the system of people’s congresses as China’s solutely not be given up,” Xi said. fundamental political system, Xi said “In new situations, we Copying another country’s political system is not feasible should hold high the banner of people’s democracy, while ad- and will even ruin the future and fate of China, he said. hering to and improving the system of people’s congresses as required by the times.” Advancing socialist democracy “We should keep to the socialist path of political develop- ment with Chinese characteristics and continue to promote The development of socialist democracy is a must for mod- socialist democracy,” he said at a conference to mark the an- ernizing the country’s “governance system” and “governance niversary, which falls on September 15. capability,” he said. China’s socialist political system has proved itself feasible, “The key to developing socialist democracy is expanding efficient and has vitality because it was developed in the rather than weakening our advantages and characteristics.” 6 National PEOPLE’S CONGRESS Of ChINA NPC He stressed China must stick to the CPC’s core role that level to prevent phenomenon that the people seem to have exercises overall leadership and coordinates all efforts to en- power but are actually powerless, he said. sure effective governance of the country and prevent engen- He also noted the system of “democratic centralism” which dering “a host of dragons without a head” or “a heap of loose helps forge united forces to administer and govern the coun- sand,” Chinese sayings which mean a country is leaderless or try and avoids impeding of each other and internal conflicts. not united. People should unswervingly stick to the CPC’s leadership, All power of the country must belong to the people, en- ensure people’s master status and promote the rule of law in suring their power of voting as well as democratic decision- their efforts to enhance the system of people’s congresses, Xi making, management and supervision in accordance to law, said. he said. The President called for efforts to improve legislative work Politicians making boundless promises during elections to provide legal support to China’s development and major with no responses to people’s demands after the elections reform measures. should be avoided, he added. The country should deepen reform on its judicial system, “We must stick to and improve the system of multi-party expand channels for the public to supervise the use of power, cooperation and political consultation led by the CPC so as and establish an effective system to curb corruption, Xi said. to prevent parties being at strife and jostling each other (for Chinese leaders Li Keqiang, Yu Zhengsheng, Liu Yunshan, positions),” he said. Wang Qishan and Zhang Gaoli were also present at the con- Regional autonomy of ethnic minorities should also be fol- ference, which was presided over by top legislator Zhang De- lowed and improved to consolidate socialist ethnic relations jiang. (Xinhua) that feature equality, solidarity, mutual aid and harmony rather than estrangement and conflicts. A conference celebrating the 60th anniversary China must strengthen self-governance at the grass-roots of establishment of the National People’s Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on September 5. Ma Zengke ISSUE 3 · 2014 7 SPECIAL REPORT 8 National PEOPLE’S CONGRESS Of ChINA NPC The System of People’s Congresses given full play hang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), said on September 15 that the system of people’s congress- es, which is China’s fundamental political system, Zshould be given full play. He made the remarks at a theoretical symposium to cel- ebrate the NPC 60th anniversary. Zhang said the nation should unswervingly stick to the socialist path of political development with Chinese charac- teristics and enhance the system of people’s congresses. Zhang called on authorities to earnestly fulfill the duties endowed by the Constitution and law and make new contri- butions to the development of socialist democracy. Zhang stressed that the system of people’s congresses is full of vitality and has huge advantages because it has been closely linked not only with the endeavor and unremitting ex- ploration by the Party and the people, but also with the grand achievements made and important experiences gained by the Party and the people. Zhang said while the nation is striving to realize the Chi- nese dream of national rejuvenation, we must be confident in the system of people’s congresses and make efforts to en- hance it. In his speech, Zhang summarized the experiences of the system, which included adhering to the role of the Commu- nist Party of China (CPC) that exercises leadership, sticking to ensure people’s master status and keeping to the rule of law. These principles should be followed and enriched in practice. Zhang stressed adherence to the CPC’s leadership, peo- ple’s master status and the rule of law should be integrated and legislative workers should perform their duties with the focus on the overall interests of the work of the Party and the nation. The event was jointly organized by the General Office of the Standing Committee of the NPC and the China Society for Theoretical Research on the System of the People’s Con- gresses. (Xinhua) Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Com- mittee of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC), addresses a theoretical symposium to celebrate the NPC 60th anniversary in Beijing on September 15. Ma Zengke ISSUE 3 · 2014 9 SPECIAL REPORT Xi Jinping (C, front), Li Ke- qiang (3rd R, front), Zhang Dejiang (3rd L, front), Yu Zhengsheng (2nd R, front), Liu Yunshan (2nd L, front), Wang Qishan (1st R, front) and Zhang Gaoli (1st L, front) attend a conference Sixty years on the march celebrating the 60th an- niversary of the National A retrospective on the transformation of China’s legislature into a mature political People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing on September 5. system with Chinese characteristics Liu Weibing By Yin Pumin n September 5, China held a conference to celebrate the 60th anniversary of es- tablishing its National People’s Congress (NPC).