The six-day conference will discuss the main points of Guangzhou's 10th Five-Year Plan (2001-05), which is the guideline for economic and social development for the capital city of Guangdong Province, said Huang Jisheng, director of the information office of the GPPCC.

Three major concerns to be discussed in the conference are the pushing forward of industrial structure reform in Guangzhou, being prepared to host the Ninth National Sports Meeting and the fight against corruption, Huang said.

The conference, composed of eight meetings, one symposium and six group discussions, will cover the work report of the Standing Committee of the GPPCC, deliberate on and adopt a number of resolutions, submit and discuss constructive proposals and draft a plan to promote the historical and cultural aspects of Guangzhou.

Apart from traditional media, the Internet will also cover the conference.

A government website will be available from next Monday, offering information on the conference's news releases, a public opinion mailbox, committee members' proposals and live broadcasts of the opening and closing ceremonies.

The many information channels now available to the public will ensure the transparency of the conference, said Huang.

Legislative consultants and specialists on Taiwan affairs and overseas affairs have been invited for the first time to participate in the conference.

The GPPCC has been playing a positive role in exercising its functions of economic and political consultation, democratic supervision and participation in and deliberation on local affairs.

Proposals discussed last year focused on three subjects - the improvement of the city's construction and administration, the fostering of a better social environment for the young and the furthering of the reform of State-owned enterprises in Guangzhou.

Last year, the conference forwarded a record 335 proposals and 97 percent were handled effectively, according to a release by the information office of the conference. The proposals underwent research and were submitted to relevant departments.

(China Daily 02/15/2001)