Chinese leaders urge efforts to deepen reforms

Chinese leaders on Sunday called for more efforts to deepen reforms and develop the economy while talking to legislators and political advisors.

Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, directed political advisors to a speech given by President Xi Jinping on Friday calling for unwavering efforts to develop the economy.

Policies should solve problems faced by small and medium-sized firms in financing, market access and public services, Yu told a political advisors' panel discussion.

He called for honest, sincere and clean contact between officials and business people, which would ensure a good environment and provide more opportunities for the private sector.

Yu asked fellow advisors to adhere to the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and promote the "four consciousnesses" -- of the ideology, the whole, the core and the line -- to drive development over the new five-year period.

Deliberating with National People's Congress (NPC) deputies from Tianjin, Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli asked them to follow the instructions of the Party's leadership and implement plans outlined in the government work report.

Zhang said issues such as overcapacity, destocking, deleveraging and reducing corporate costs should be given attention.

He called on the deputies to do more to foster new growth drivers and prevent systemic and regional risks, and improve people's livelihoods.

"Tianjin should aim for a stronger economy through supply-side structural reform," he said.

Deliberating with NPC deputies from Beijing, Wang Qishan, secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, urged authorities to uphold the Party's leadership, study Xi's key speeches and conform to the CPC Central Committee.

They must put the development concepts of innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development into practice, and let the public enjoy the fruits of development, Wang said.

He said the Party holds the key to the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

"As long as we have a stronger Party, as long as our officials stick to the Party's charter and its policies, as long as we focus more on the general public rather than ourselves and have the courage to assume responsibility, there shall be no insurmountable challenges," he said.