The People's Daily hails in its editorial the convocation of the annual session of China's top legislature slated for Friday, which it refers to as a major event of vital importance in pressing ahead with the national drive to build a well-off society in an all-round way.

During the Second Session of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC), deputies will hear and deliberate reports on the work of the government, the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme Court and Supreme Procuratorate, and on the budget and social and economic development plan.

The editorial notes that a major task of the annual session is to deliberate the drafted amendment to the country's constitution.

Therefore, "the opening of the session is a major issue in the political life of the people of all ethnicities across the country," the newspaper says in an editorial to be published Friday.

The editorial reviews the major achievements China had scored last year, including the victory in the fight against SARS and the country's first manned space flight and, it says that the NPC Standing Committee, set up a year ago, had done a lot to boost development in economic, political and cultural spheres, and improve legislation and supervision.

The achievements of the NPC has proved that the people's congress system is "a sound system with great advantaged and strong vitality to comply with China's realities." and "it will play a still greater role in pushing ahead the country's reform and opening up and the realization of the great goal of building a well-off society in an all-round way," says the editorial.

The year 2004 is crucial to the fulfillment of China's 10th five-year plan for social and economic development, notes the editorial, acknowledging that to complete all the work set for the year is of crucial and far-reaching significance to maintaining the good momentum in economic and social development.

It also calls on NPC deputies to contribute their good ideas at the session to facilitate the development of the country.

(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2004)