Wu, a member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, told the NPC deputies from Hong Kong, that since its return to the motherland, the policy of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and a high degree of autonomy and the Basic Law have been carried out in an all-round way.

"It has been proven that this policy is correct and is of great vitality. We will persist in this policy," said Wu, who is also vice-premier of the State Council.

"We will act in strict accordance with the Basic Law, give full support to the chief executive and government of the special administrative region (SAR), seek wide solidarity of Hong Kong people from all walks of life, actively step up exchanges and cooperation between the mainland and Hong Kong in the fields of economics, trade, education, science and technology, and culture, and work together to maintain and promote Hong Kong's prosperity, stability and development.

Wen Jiabao, who is also a member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee, focused on the development of western China when he took part in the discussion with the delegation of NPC deputies from Yunnan Province, southwest China.

Wen, also vice-premier, called for efforts to accelerate infrastructure construction, improves production and living conditions, well deal with the program to return cultivated land to forests, strengthen ecological construction, development science and technology and local specialties, and step up cooperation between eastern China and the central and western regions for common development.

Jia Qinglin, also a member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee, joined in the joint panel discussion with CPPCC members representing the China Democratic National Construction Association, one of China's eight non-communist parties, and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), a non-government organization formed by the country's industrialists and business people from both the public and non-public sectors.

The system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation is the fundamental political system of China, and the 16th CPC National Congress, held last November, had stressed that this system must be adhered to and further improved, said Jia.

After the 16th CPC National Congress, General Secretary Hu Jintao has paid visits to the central committees of all the eight non-communist parties as well as the ACFIC, in a display of the aspiration and determination of the new collective central leadership of the CPC to adhere to the system of multi-party cooperation and political consultation, Jia noted.

Zeng Qinghong, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, joined in the group discussion with NPC deputies from Heilongjiang Province, northeast China. He said that while pushing forward the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics, efforts must be made to promote Party building.

He hoped that the people of Heilongjiang, inspired by the successful NPC and CPPCC sessions, would give full play to local advantages and overcome various difficulties, to achieve a new economic takeoff and safeguard social stability.

(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2003)