—Amendment to the Constitution

       On March 14, the Second Session the 10th NPC approved the amendment to the Constitution with 2,863 votes in favor.

       Major points of the amendment include, among others, expressions of institution of the guiding role of the important thought of the "Three Represents" in national political and social life, and promotion of a coordinated development of material, political and spiritual civilizations, incorporation of the term "builders of socialism" in the description of the united front, and improvement of the land requisition system.

       Also included are expressions on the further clarification of the state policy toward non-public economic sectors, private property protection, respect for and protection of human rights, improvement of the social security system and the NPC composition; stipulations on the state of emergency, the functions of the presidency and the revision of the terms of government at township level; and provision on the national anthem.

       These revisions all have bearing on the long-standing political stability of the nation and the fundamental interests of the people, represent the self-improvement and development of the socialism, and embody the unification of the will of the Party and the people.

        —Deliberation of related reports

        The session approved the Government Work Report delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao, on behalf of the State Council. The lawmakers agreed in a resolution that the report is truth-bound and pragmatic. It reviews and sums up the government work over the past year in the spirit of seeking truth from facts, fully reflecting the efforts and prominent achievements in all aspects, and expounding the difficulties and problems ahead. The planning of the government work in the next year embodies the scientific concept of development, outlines definite tasks, focuses on tackling major contradictions and is realizable, said the resolution.

        The session also adopted resolutions, endorsing the Report on the Implementation of the 2003 Plan for National Economic and Social Development and on the Draft 2004 Plan for National Economic and Social Development, the Report on the Implementation of the Central and Local Budgets for 2003 and on the Draft Central and Local Budgets for 2004, the Work Report of the NPC Standing Committee, the Work Report of the Supreme People's Court and the Work Report of the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

        —Handling of deputies' motions

        By 6 p.m. of March 10, the Secretariat of the Second Session of the 10th NPC had received a total of 1,374 motions, including 13 put forward by various delegations and 1,361 by groups of over 30 deputies. The figure is a record high since the motion delivery system was first introduced at the First Session of the Sixth NPC in 1983.

        The secretariat conducted meticulous and case-by-case analysis of all the motions. Of this, 641 motions, which complied with the requirements set by NPC, were taken as bills to be submitted to the NPC special committees for examination. The other 733 motions, along with suggestions, complaints and ideas received from deputies during this year's session, were transferred to relevant government and judicial departments for study and handling via the administrative bodies of the NPC Standing Committee. These departments are required to reply to concerned deputies and submit their replies to the administrative bodies of the NPC Standing Committee for supervision and future inspections.