Fifth, we improved social governance and maintained social harmony and stability. In the face of natural disasters and other emergencies, we worked in an orderly and efficient way and in accordance with laws and regulations, put people first, and responded in a well-planned way. We both coped with emergencies effectively and explored how to set up new mechanisms to improve social governance.

Last year, several severe natural disasters occurred in China, including earthquakes in Lushan, Sichuan Province, and in Min and Zhang counties, Gansu Province; floods in the Heilong, Songhua and Nen river areas; high temperatures and drought in southern China; and ferocious typhoons in coastal areas. The transmission of avian flu to humans also occurred. We improved the emergency response and disaster relief mechanism based on separate responsibilities for central and local governments and close coordination between them. With the central government coordinating overall aid and assistance and local governments in the affected areas exercising direct relief management, people's lives and property received the best possible protection.

Workplace safety and market oversight were strengthened. We improved relevant mechanisms, conducted thorough investigations into major workplace accidents and held those involved accountable. As a result, serious and major work-related accidents decreased by 16.9%. We merged food and drug oversight agencies, carried out a campaign to improve food and drug safety, exercised strict oversight over the quality of infant formula in accordance with drug supervision regulations, and strove to ensure that people have access to safe food and drugs.

To enhance law-based governance, the State Council made proposals to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on enacting or revising 34 laws, put forward a bill for abolishing the system of reeducation through labor, and enacted or revised 47 administrative regulations. We improved the system for handling people's complaints expressed in letters or visits and for mediating disputes, and prevented and defused social conflicts. We cracked down on all kinds of crime in accordance with the law.

We fully implemented the CPC Central Committee's eight-point decision on improving Party and government conduct, carried out the campaign to heighten awareness of and implement the mass line, firmly opposed formalism, bureaucracy, hedonism and extravagance, and strictly implemented the State Council's three-point decision on curbing government spending. Spending by central government bodies on official overseas visits, official vehicles, and official hospitality was reduced by 35%, and spending by provincial-level governments on official hospitality decreased by 26%. Efforts to uphold integrity and fight corruption were strengthened and a number of people violating the law or discipline were brought to justice.

Last year, we made new ground in conducting China's diplomacy. President Xi Jinping and other new state leaders accomplished much through their participation in major multilateral events, including the G20 Leaders Summit, the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit, the BRICS Leaders Meeting, and the East Asian leaders meetings, and their visits to a number of countries.

China entered a new phase in pursuing neighborhood diplomacy. Progress was made in economic diplomacy. China's exchanges and cooperation with other developing countries reached a new level. China's relations with other major countries steadily grew through interaction. China played the role of a large responsible country in important international and regional issues and hotspot issues. We resolutely safeguarded China's sovereignty, territorial integrity and maritime rights and interests. China's influence in the world further increased.