Challenges severe, but opportunities exist, president tells deputies

State leaders joined deputies of the National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, in deliberating Premier Wen Jiabao's government work report yesterday. They are calling for concerted efforts to overcome difficulties and achieve fresh development.

Joining NPC deputies from the East China's Jiangsu province, President Hu Jintao said "challenges are very severe, opportunities still exist" to describe the current domestic and international situations.

"We must seize the opportunities, tackle the challenges and minimize the impact of the international financial crisis," Hu said.

"(We) must break new ground by tackling challenges and achieve fresh development by overcoming difficulties," he added.

While deliberating the report with lawmakers from Anhui province, top legislator Wu Bangguo called for fully implementing the Scientific Outlook on Development, ensuring steady and relatively rapid economic growth, and promoting people's well being.

Wu, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, told deputies to be aware of both the current economic difficulties and long-term development opportunities.

Top political advisor Jia Qinglin said that faced with challenges of the world economic turmoil, the priority task is to ensure steady and relatively rapid economic development.

Jia, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), told NPC deputies from Beijing that the capital city, with the precious experience of hosting the Olympics and Paralympics, should ensure the success of New China's 60th anniversary celebration activities in October.

Li Changchun, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said the Scientific Outlook on Development should be embodied in cultural building to better serve the people's cultural needs and promote economic and social progress.

While attending a group discussion with lawmakers from Sichuan province, Li also praised the province for its reconstruction efforts after the May 12 earthquake last year.

Vice-President Xi Jinping also attended the group discussion with NPC deputies from Shanghai. Xi told deputies from the coastal metropolis to follow the guidelines of the central government by focusing on boosting domestic consumption in the face of the economic downturn.

He also urged the city to be fully prepared and ensure a successful World Expo in 2010.