Guo Ziyi, a deputy to the NPC from Guizhou said the scientific outlook on development is by no means an empty slogan. "I expect less newspeak and more scientific and effective measures (from the sessions)."

Thorny issues

Other thorny issues such as social security, medical care, and corruption will also be on the agenda of lawmakers and political advisors.

In an online poll by Xinhuanet.com days before the opening of the two sessions, corruption still tops netizens' concerns even as the nation is struggling to cope with the impact of international financial crisis.

They complained at the online forum that their interests were ignored or violated by local officials.

Some people even put articles on their blogs, expressing their anxiety that the money from the stimulus package might be embezzled.

Bureaucracy, a chronical problem, is another factor that might hinder China from recovering from the economic downturn.

When chatting with netizens on Sunday, Premier Wen Jiabao pointed out that only by creating a clean government can ensure the economy to grow steadily.

"I always think that people has the right to know what the government is thinking and doing, and voice their criticism of government policy," he said.

To win people's support, the Chinese government has taken measures to ensure people's participation in major policy-making. For example, public hearings are being frequently held in the drafting of major laws and policies.

"If the governments are more transparent, efficient, open-minded and service-oriented, I believe the economic stimulus plans would be better implemented," said NPC deputy Guo, a member of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, one of China's eight non-Communist parties.

Since last October, the government has announced several aggressive measures to bolster domestic demand and increase investment, including the stimulus package, a plan to expand rural consumption of home appliances and support plans for key industries.

Foreknowledge

Experts believe that the scientific outlook, which the Chinese leaders have repeatedly emphasized as an approach to overcome current difficulties, would be further elaborated at the "two sessions".

The doctrine was inscribed in the CPC Constitution at the Party's 17th National Congress in 2007.

The concept emphasizes caring about the well-being of people, promoting comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable development and balancing different aspects of social life, said Prof. Wang Yukai of the National School of Administration.

Wang said it was a coincidence that the campaign of studying and applying the concept was closely connected with the international financial crisis.

"The campaign actually started before the financial crisis," he said. "But I do believe the approach of the scientific outlook could provide solutions to curb the economic downturn," he said.

China has made significant achievements since it adopted the reform and opening-up policy 30 years ago. But the country also paid a high social and environmental cost for its rapid economic growth.

"China is now striving to keep economic growth, but it shall never return to the old-style industrialization featuring high input, high consumption and high pollution," Wang said.

"The approach (of the scientific outlook on development) is consistent with China's efforts to fight against the financial crisis, which forced the country to change its economic growth pattern and invest more to improve people's livelihoods," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency March 3, 2009)