Li Ruihuan, chairman of the Ninth CPPCC National Committee, presided over the meeting, at which three other draft resolutions including one on the work of the CPPCC National Committee were also adopted.

It is decided at the meeting that the draft political resolution of the Fifth Session of the Ninth CPPCC National Committee and the other three draft resolutions be presented for voting at the full meeting of the session due to close Wednesday.

In his report on the progress since the annual session began on March 3, Zheng Wantong, secretary-general of the Ninth CPPCC National Committee, said that by March 8, the official deadline for receiving proposals, CPPCC members had presented 3,583 proposals, and 3,368 of them have been adopted.

During their discussions, CPPCC members spoke highly of and supported the report on the work of government Premier Zhu Rongji delivered at the annual session of the Ninth National People's Congress, which is being held almost in parallel with the CPPCC session, Zheng said.

He said that it is the consensus of the members that the premier's report well summarized the achievements made in the past year, gave a good analysis of the existing problems, and put forward tasks for the new year in a practical manner.

The members discussed a wide range of issues concerning state affairs and social and economic development with top leaders of the Party and state and leading officials responsible for major government departments during the session.

They also raised opinions on the revision of the premier's report, Zheng said, adding that the session's secretariat has presented these opinions to related departments of the State Council.

The members also put forward opinions and suggestions on strengthening and improving the work of the CPPCC.

(Xinhua News Agency March 13, 2002)