Corruption to be hot topic at NPC session
(Xinhua) Updated: 2007-03-02 16:56
A number of motions aimed at fighting corruption and building a clean
government are expected to be tabled at the upcoming "two sessions" -- the
annual meetings of China's top legislature and political advisory body,
according to observers.
Despite a number of high profile arrests on
corruption charges, many experts agree that an effective system of checks and
controls that prevent graft is urgently needed.
China is in dire need of
a comprehensive institutional framework that will turn corruption into "a
high-risk activity that provides skimpy returns," experts say.
They
predict that motions on corruption prevention will be in the spotlight at the
annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National
Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)
scheduled to open on March 5 and March 3 respectively.
The two sessions
are considered the most important annual political events in China. This year
the two sessions are particularly important as the 17th National Congress of the
Communist Party of China (CPC), which convenes every five years, will take place
in Beijing this fall.
Gan Yisheng, vice secretary of the CPC Central
Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), revealed earlier that a state
corruption prevention bureau that will attempt to stem graft at its source will
soon be established.
A total of 97,260 Party members were punished last
year, many of whom were found to have taken bribes or turned a blind eye to
their duties.
Case files of 3,530 members were handed over to
prosecutors, including Shanghai's former Party chief Chen Liangyu, who was also
a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.
Other
important issues such as expensive medical care, rising educational fees,
soaring housing costs, scant social security coverage, mounting employment
pressure and the low incomes of farmers, will also top the concerns of
participants at the "two sessions", experts say.
Official websites,
including xinhuanet.com and people.com.cn, have already opened forums to collect
public opinion. The websites say there are no restrictions on discussion of
"sensitive" issues.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao also invited 12 ordinary
residents to join the discussion of the government's work report which will be
submitted to the NPC's annual session.
Grassroots public opinion will
provide the basis for key discussions at the "two sessions", observers say.
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