1) We strengthened our ties with NPC deputies.
We implemented the system whereby members of the Chairperson's Council and members of the Standing Committee maintain direct contact with NPC deputies, and heard deputies' comments and suggestions on the work of the Standing Committee in a variety of ways. We invited more deputies to observe meetings of the Standing Committee and increased their participation in the Standing Committee's legislation, oversight, and research activities. Last year, more than 370 deputies observed meetings of the Standing Committee, over 300 participated in the Standing Committee's inspections of compliance with laws, and more than 600 took part in fact-finding investigations organized by the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.
2) We carefully examined deputies' proposals and handled their suggestions.
The relevant special committees completed their examination of all 521 proposals referred to them by the Presidium of the Third Session of the 12th NPC last year. Pursuant to this, the Standing Committee has, after deliberations, adopted 17 legislative items and launched five law compliance inspection tasks cited in 91 of the proposals; is currently deliberating eight legislative items cited in 22 proposals; and has included 49 legislative items discussed in 159 proposals into the legislative plan. During the examination process, the special committees made earnest efforts to study and adopt the opinions of deputies and promptly prepared reports on the outcome of their examination.
All 8,239 suggestions, criticisms, and comments submitted by deputies during last year's session of the NPC have been handled, and feedback has been given to deputies by the departments handling them. The State Council, the Supreme People's Court, and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, as well as relevant government departments attached great significance to the handling of deputies' suggestions. The State Council convened an executive meeting exclusively to hear its departments' reports on the handling of deputies' suggestions, and set out clear requirements. The departments charged with the handling of suggestions strengthened their direct communication with deputies concerned and made dedicated efforts to improve the relevant aspects of their work and address the problems in question. According to statistics, 80.1% of the problems raised by deputies last year have been resolved or slated for gradual resolution. We grouped and condensed 185 suggestions jointly proposed by 2,638 deputies belonging to 13 delegations, ending up with 20 key suggestions to be addressed under our supervision. These suggestions were referred to 43 departments for implementation under the oversight of seven special committees of the NPC. Thanks to the efforts of all sides, notable progress has been made in the handling of these suggestions. In response to suggestions on, among other things, promoting the development of the Yangtze Economic Belt and turning China into a manufacturer of quality, the relevant departments formulated and introduced a number of plans, policies, and measures which have proven highly effective in advancing the relevant initiatives.
3) We supported and ensured deputies' law-based performance of their duties.
We organized for more than 1,700 deputies to participate in dedicated research activities. This not only prepared them for attending this session of the NPC and performing their duties, but also helped them to enter communities, interact with the general public, and gain a better understanding of social conditions and popular feelings. We successfully organized four study sessions and seminars on special topics for deputies, as well as one study session for ethnic minority deputies. At the sessions, the principal leaders of the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the Ministry of Supervision, and the Ministry of Finance delivered specialized reports, following which more than 1,100 attending deputies discussed and exchanged views on the relevant topics.
