Social security top concern ahead of 'two sessions'

Chinese Internet users are most concerned about social security and anti-corruption issues, which they hope will be addressed during the upcoming "two sessions," an online poll showed Wednesday.

The National People's Congress, the top legislature, and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the political advisory body, will convene their annual sessions next month.

Major news portals, such as people.com.cn, run by the People's Daily, the flagship newspaper of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, conducted polls among netizens on "the most concerned" issues ahead of the conferences.

By Wednesday afternoon, the poll had drawn more than 675,000 participants.

For the fourth time since 2010, social security is the most concerned issue, attracting more than 117,000 votes.

Netizens are demanding better solutions for unemployment insurance, medical security and the livelihoods of laid-off workers.

"I strongly appeal to abolish the double-track retirement system between civil servants and factory workers," said netizen "Jingbo637803," adding his (or her) pension, though it has witnessed a seven-year increase, is only one third that of civil servants.

Anti-corruption was second on the list with more than 80,000 votes.

Some 9,000 people agreed that "assets disclosure should be deepened," a sign of expectations in the fight against corruption, especially after Chinese leader Xi Jinping called for "encaging power" last month.

Many said in the comments that online muckrakers need support from the government, adding that exposing corruption online anonymously is "a convenient and fast way" to fight it and protect whistleblowers.

"Extravagant banquets have already been trimmed down thanks to newly-produced harsh policies, but misuse of government vehicles still runs without check," said netizen "Ruodan427."

Another netizen suggested that all official vehicles should carry identity signs.

Other "top concerns" mentioned included income distribution, health care system reform, housing, eco-system, government administrative reform, national defense and inflation.

In the "Questions for Premier" column, netizens wrote comments,suggestions and advice for a new Cabinet, which will be sworn in at the end of the annual legislative session in March.

Results of the poll will be transferred to relevant departments for reference, according to the website.