Participating in the panel discussion of lawmakers from northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Vice Premier Wu first expressed his concerns about the life of people affected by the recent major earthquake in Xinjiang, and asked about the latest developments of the relief work.

Wu, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, then discussed with the NPC deputies about China's strategic decision to develop its vast western areas.

"All provinces and autonomous regions in the west should seize the opportunity to promote a comprehensive local economic and social development, so as to enhance ethnic unity and local people's living standards," he said.

Huang Ju, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, also discussed the issue of western development with NPC deputies from the southwestern Sichuan province.

"As long as you can draw on the successful experience of other regions and make full use of your own advantages, you will definitely find a course of development that suits the actual situation in your province, and catch up with those better-developed provinces and regions," Huang said.

Li Changchun, another member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, joined lawmakers from northeast China's Liaoning Province in discussing the future of the State-owned enterprises.

"As an old industrial base, Liaoning should continue to deepen the reform of State-owned enterprises with strong confidence, and pursue the course of industrialization of a new mode through technical upgrading," said Li, who urged the local government to take effective measures to help workers laid off from the State-owned enterprises get re-employed.

In the NPC delegation from central China's Hunan Province, State Councilor Luo Gan told the deputies that China has initially established a socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics, which is based on the Constitution.

"To achieve a rule of law in China, all political parties, state organs, social groups, enterprises, social institutions, and individuals must make their conducts compatible with the law," stressed Luo, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. He also called for greater efforts to fight corruption at law-enforcement departments and ensure judicial justice.

(Xinhua News Agency March 11, 2003)