ISSUE 1 · 2013 NPC《中国人大》对外版 CHAIRMAN ZHANG DEJIANG VOWS TO PROMOTE SOCIALIST DEMOCRACY, RULE OF LAW ISSUE 4 · 2012 1 Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Zhang Dejiang (7th, L) has a group photo with vice-chairpersons Zhang Baowen, Arken Imirbaki, Zhang Ping, Shen Yueyue, Yan Junqi, Wang Shengjun, Li Jianguo, Chen Changzhi, Wang Chen, Ji Bingxuan, Qiangba Puncog, Wan Exiang, Chen Zhu (from left to right). Ma Zengke China’s new leadership takes 6 shape amid high expectations Contents Special Report Speech In–depth 6 18 24 China’s new leadership takes shape President Xi Jinping vows to bring China capable of sustaining economic amid high expectations benefits to people in realizing growth: Premier ‘Chinese dream’ 8 25 Chinese top legislature has younger 19 China rolls out plan to transform leaders Chairman Zhang Dejiang vows government functions to promote socialist democracy, 12 rule of law 27 China unveils new cabinet amid China’s anti-graft efforts to get function reform People institutional impetus 15 20 28 Report on the work of the Standing Chairman Zhang Dejiang: ‘Power China defense budget to grow 10.7 Committee of the National People’s should not be aloof from public percent in 2013 Congress (excerpt) supervision’ 20 Chairman Zhang Dejiang: ‘Power should not be aloof from public supervision’ Doubling income is easy, narrowing 30 regional gap is anything but 34 New age for China’s women deputies ISSUE 1 · 2013 29 37 Rural reform helps China ensure grain Style changes take center stage at security Beijing’s political season 30 Doubling income is easy, narrowing NPC Q&A regional gap is anything but NPC General Editorial 38-39 Office Address: 23 Xijiaominxiang, Observation Xicheng District Beijing 100805,P.R.China Picture Tel: (86-10)6309-8540 (86-10)8308-3891 32 E-mail: [email protected] New national legislature sees more 40-47 diversity ISSN 1674-3008 CN 11-5683/D 34 COVER: Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Price:RMB35 National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Edited by The People’s Congresses Journal New age for China’s women deputies Committee, delivers a speech at the closing meeting of the first session of the 12th NPC Published by The People’s Congresses Journal at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Printed by Beijing Guo Cai Printing Co., Ltd. in China March 17, 2013. Ma Zhancheng SPECIAL REPORT China’s new leadership takes shape amid high expectations hina’s new State leadership has taken shape at the first session of the 12th Na- tional People’s Congress (NPC). On March 14, Xi Jinping was elected Cpresident of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and chairman of the Central Military Commis- sion of the PRC. Zhang Dejiang was elected chairman of the Standing Committee of the Na- tional People’s Congress, the country’s top legis- lature. On March 15, Li Keqiang was endorsed pre- mier of the State Council. Zhou Qiang was elect- ed president of the Supreme People’s Court and Cao Jianming was re-elected procurator-general of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate. On March 16, a new lineup of the State Coun- cil was endorsed, including vice-premiers, State councilors, ministers, heads of the commissions, the central bank governor and auditor-general, thus completing the election and appointment proceedings at the first session of the 12th Na- tional People’s Congress. “I have witnessed a smooth and transparent transition of State leadership, which will lay a solid foundation for the country’s development in the future,” said Sun Xianzong, an NPC deputy and research fellow with the Institute of Law, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Sun said he was impressed by the political ca- reers of President Xi and Premier Li. “Over the past four months, they have shown an image of being pragmatic and innovative. They have brought new style and policies,” he said. The new leadership is to lead the world’s most populous country and second largest economy through complex challenges at home and abroad. NPC deputies voiced high expectations on the new State leadership. Zhang Wencheng, an NPC deputy and vil- lage Party chief from northeast China’s Liaoning Province, said he hoped the new government could take measures to improve rural infrastruc- ture and protect farm land. Xi Jinping greets deputies at the fourth plenary meeting of the first session of the 12th “It is correct to push forward urbanization, National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing on March 14, 2013. Xi was elected presi- dent of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and chairman of the Central Military Com- but urbanization should not be carried out at the mission of the PRC at the NPC session in Beijing on March 14. Lan Hongguang cost of farm land,” he said. (Xinhua) 6 National PEOPLE’S CONGRESS Of ChINA NPC Above: Hu Jintao (L) congratulates Xi Jinping on his election as presi- Below: Deputies queue to cast ballots at the fourth plenary meeting of dent of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and chairman of the Cen- the first session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) at the tral Military Commission of the PRC at the fourth plenary meeting of the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 14, 2013 to elect chairman, first session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing on vice-chairpersons, secretary-general and members of the 12th NPC March 14, 2013. Pang Xinglei Standing Committee, president and vice-president of PRC, and chairman of the Central Military Commission of PRC. Liu Weibing Tourists ride bicycles at Qionghai Wet- land Park in Xichang, Sichuan Prov- ince on November 20, 2012. Liu Chan ISSUE 1 · 2013 7 SPECIAL REPORT Chinese top legislature has younger leaders 2008. From March to November 2012, he also served as secre- tary of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee. Zhang was elected a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee in Novem- ber last year. Assuming his new role as China’s top legislator, Zhang will be assisted by 13 newly-elected vice chairpersons, namely Li Jianguo, Wang Shengjun, Chen Changzhi, Yan Junqi, Wang Chen, Shen Yueyue, Ji Bingxuan, Zhang Ping, Qiangba Puncog, Arken Imirbaki, Wan Exiang, Zhang Baowen and Chen Zhu. Wang Chen was also elected secretary-general of the NPC Standing Committee. After the elections, a younger generation born after the founding of New China joined the top legislature leadership and take the center stage, including 56-year-old Shen Yueyue, the youngest vice chairperson. With an average age of 62.8 years, the new NPC leadership members are two years younger than their predecessors when they took office five years ago. The new NPC leadership lineup is made up of experienced ex-ministers, well-trained CPC officials, regional leaders and heads of non-Communist parties who have shown their leader- ship capabilities in their previous positions. According to the election results, CPC members take up Wu Bangguo (R) shakes hands with Zhang Dejiang after Zhang was elect- eight of the 13-seat vice chairmanship of the top legislature, ed chairman of the 12th National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Com- namely Li Jianguo, Wang Shengjun, Wang Chen, Shen Yueyue, mittee at the fourth plenary meeting of the first session of the 12th NPC in Ji Bingxuan, Zhang Ping, Qiangba Puncog and Arken Imirbaki, Xie Huanchi Beijing on March 14, 2013. while leaders of non-Communist parties take the remaining five seats. younger generation of leaders from different Before their elections, most of the newly elected vice chair- political parties, ethnic groups and professional persons had assumed posts of regional leaders and ministers, backgrounds are now taking to the center stage of where they showed their experience and leadership capabilities. the Chinese National People’s Congress. Li Jianguo was one of the three re-elected as vice chairper- ANearly 3,000 lawmakers elected the new leadership of Chi- sons, along with Chen Changzhi, chairman of the Central Com- na’s top legislature through secret ballots at a plenary meeting mittee of the China National Democratic Construction Associa- on March 14, 2013. tion, and Yan Junqi, chairwoman of the Central Committee of Zhang Dejiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the the China Association for Promoting Democracy. Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Cen- Born into a farmer’s family in April 1946, Li has assumed tral Committee, was elected chairman of the Standing Commit- many community-level positions in Tianjin Municipality and tee of the 12th National People’s Congress (NPC), replacing Wu once served as CPC secretary in Shaanxi and Shandong prov- Bangguo. inces before he was elected vice chairman of 11th NPC Standing After the announcement of his election, Zhang stood up and Committee and secretary-general in 2008. bowed to NPC deputies, and then shook hands with Wu. The Also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Cen- election was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. tral Committee, Li was elected chairman of the All-China Born in northeast China’s Liaoning Province in November Federation of Trade Unions in early March, replacing Wang 1946, Zhang studied economics at the Kim Il Sung University in Zhaoguo. the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from 1978 to 1980. One of the best known vice chairpersons of the top legisla- He served as CPC secretary of Jilin, Zhejiang and Guang- ture is 66-year-old Wang Shengjun, who served as chief justice dong provinces successively before he became vice premier in of the Supreme People’s Court over the past five years.