Chaired by Li Peng, chairman of the 9th NPC Standing Committee, the meeting, with an attendance of 2,855 deputies, also adopted the agenda that will include the election of a new state leadership.

The presidium is composed of leaders of the Communist Party ofChina (CPC) and the state, leaders of non-Communist parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, personages without party affiliation, leaders of government agencies and people's organizations, leaders of all the 35 delegations to the NPC session, including those from Hong Kong and Macao and the Chinese People's Liberation Army, deputies representing sciences, education, literature and art, sports, public health and religions and other walks of life as well as overseas Chinese and big minority nationalities.

Wang Zhaoguo was elected secretary-general for the new NPC session.

Addressing the meeting, Li Peng described the current NPC session as a "major event following the 16th CPC National Congress in November 2002" as it would effectuate a state leadership change that is of vital importance to building a country ruled by law, building a well-off society in every aspect of life and creating a new situation in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

The agenda adopted for the current NPC Session have 18 items. They include:

-- To hear and examine the government work report;

-- To hear and examine a report on the implementation of the 2002 national economic and social development plan and a draft plan for 2003 national economic and social development;

-- To adopt the report on the implementation of the 2002 national economic and social development plan and the plan for 2003 national economic and social development;

-- To hear and examine a report on the implementation of the 2002 central and local budget and the draft budget for 2003;

-- To adopt the report on the implementation of the 2002 central and local budget and the central and local budget for 2003;

-- To examine a plan by the State Council for restructuring government agencies;

-- To hear and examine a work report by the NPC Standing Committee;

-- To hear and examine work reports by the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate;

-- To examine a draft decision on setting up of specialized committees of the 10th NPC;

-- To examine and adopt draft rules on election and appointment for the 10th NPC First Session;

-- To elect chairman, vice-chairmen, secretary-general and members of the 10th NPC Standing Committee;

-- To elect President and Vice-President of the People's Republic of China (PRC);

-- To decide on candidates for the premiership of the State Council and for the posts of vice-premiers, state councilors, ministers, governor of the People's Bank of China, auditor-general, and secretary-general of the State Council;

-- To elect chairman of the Central Military Commission of the PRC;

-- To decide on candidates for the posts of vice-chairmen and members of the Central Military Commission of the PRC;

-- To elect president of the Supreme People's Court and procurator-general of the Supreme People's Procuratorate;

-- To approve candidates for the posts of chairmen, vice-chairmen and members of all specialized committees of the 10th NPC.

The first session of the 10th National People's Congress is scheduled to last for thirteen and a half days.

(Xinhua News Agency March 4, 2003)