President Hu stresses stable food prices, supply of farm produce(1)

2008-03-10 09:17:31 [ Big Normal Small ]    　Comment

Chinese President Hu Jintao (3rd R) meets with deputies to the First Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from east China's Shandong Province in Beijing, capital of China, March 9, 2008. Hu Jintao joined in the panel discussion of Shandong delegation on Sunday during the First Session of the 11th NPC.(Xinhua Photo)

BEIJING, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao urged local governments to ensure stable food prices and supply of major farm produce on Sunday.

Hu's remarks came after the country's consumer price index (CPI) scored 4.8 percent last year and an 11-year-high of 7.1 percent in January this year, triggering inflation fears.

"We must ensure stable production and prices of 'vegetable basket' products (nonstaple food) for urban and rural consumers," Hu said, speaking at a panel discussion of the delegation of Shandong Province at the ongoing annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's parliament.

The president also accentuated the significance of changing the modes of economic development to promote a sound and rapid development.

Senior leaders including Wu Bangguo, Wen Jiabao, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang also joined panel discussions of different delegations on Saturday.

Top legislator Wu Bangguo, while talking with lawmakers from the Fujian Province delegation who were deliberating his Saturday's work report of the 10th NPC Standing Committee, pledged to make greater efforts to improve the committee's work with the oversight of NPC deputies.


Wu Bangguo (L front), member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, listens as a deputy to the First Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from southeast China's Fujian Province sings a song for him in Beijing, capital of China, March 9, 2008. Wu Bangguo joined in the panel discussion of Fujian delegation on Sunday during the First Session of the 11th NPC.(Xinhua Photo)

"We must hold high the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, unswervingly pursue the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics... in a bid to uphold and improve the system of people's congresses and do a good job in this regard under new circumstances," Wu said.

Premier Wen Jiabao, who joined deputies from the northeastern Jilin Province, said northeast China should fully exploit its advantages to boost the manufacturing sector, particularly the production of heavy equipment.


Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd R) meets with deputies to the First Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) from northeast China's Jilin Province in Beijing, capital of China, March 9, 2008. Wen Jiabao joined in the panel discussion of Jilin delegation on Sunday during the First Session of the 11th NPC.(Xinhua Photo)

Rejuvenation of the old industrial base is not a short-term mission, Wen said. "Our ultimate goal is to achieve sustainable development, which demands energy conservation, ecological recovery and environmental protection."

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