Chinese lawmakers and political advisors pledged to align their efforts with the country’s central tasks after discussions with President Xi Jinping during this year's "two sessions," vowing to contribute to building a modern socialist country and achieving national rejuvenation.
At the annual meetings of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Xi joined discussions with NPC deputies and CPPCC members on issues ranging from economic growth and public health to military modernization.
Xi urged major economic provinces to redouble efforts to gain experience in analyzing new situations and solving new problems, when taking part in a deliberation with his fellow deputies from the Jiangsu Province delegation at the fourth session of the 14th NPC, China's national legislature.
He also said that China must navigate a more complex environment and resolve more deep-seated contradictions to fulfill the development goals of the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030).
When joining the discussion of political advisors from the Chinese Peasants and Workers Democratic Party, the Jiusan Society, the sector of medicine and healthcare, and the sector of welfare and social security, Xi called for efforts to follow a healthcare development path with Chinese characteristics and achieve decisive progress in advancing the Healthy China Initiative.
When attending a plenary meeting of the delegation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the People's Armed Police Force , Xi stressed fully leveraging the unique strengths of enhancing political loyalty in the military, and called for concerted efforts to advance the modernization of national defense and the armed forces in a steady and sustained manner.
Chinese lawmakers and political advisors echoed Xi's calls.
Xu Guanghui, a NPC deputy and director general of the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Science and Technology, said that the province will speed up efforts to build itself into a leading hub for science and technology and boost original innovation and high-end industry leadership.
"During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we will seize the opportunity of jointly building the Shanghai (Yangtze River Delta) International Science and Technology Innovation Center, shoulder the responsibility of a major economic province, and fully develop an industrial and technological innovation hub with a global influence. We will accelerate the building of a strong sci-tech province, focus on enhancing our capacity for original innovation, leadership in high-end industries, and the ability to attract top talents, so as to make greater contribution to building China into a strong nation in science and technology," said Xu.
CPPCC member Liu Sijin, who is secretary of the Party Committee of Shandong First Medical University, pledged to integrate medical education, research and industry, and to push for breakthroughs in cutting-edge science and technology.
"I will push for a deep integration of medical education, research and industry, and focus on major disease prevention. I will make more efforts on breakthroughs in sci-tech research that is new and pioneering, push for the commercialization of more innovative drugs and medical devices, and ensure that results of sci-tech innovation can better benefit the people," said Liu.
NPC deputies from the military pledged unwavering loyalty and commitment to advancing defense modernization.
"On the new journey of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we must strengthen our resolve and discipline -- the more thorough the conduct improvement, the more solid the foundation for tackling difficulties, and the stronger the foundation for strengthening the military. We must ensure absolute loyalty, purity and reliability, and pool our strength to advance the modernization of national defense and the armed forces in a steady and sustainable way," said Chen Hongyu, a NPC deputy.
Chinese lawmakers and political advisors also said that they will focus on high-quality development and consensus-building to ensure a strong start of the 15th Five-Year Plan period and contribute to Chinese modernization.
"Next, we will focus on frontier science and national strategic needs, vigorously reform evaluation systems, and use scientific innovation to empower industrial innovation in sectors such as cell therapy, AI and advanced manufacturing, so as to contribute to high-quality development of the 15th Five-Year Plan," said Shi Yigong, a CPPCC member and president of the Westlake University.
Ma Xiuli, a CPPCC member and technician with China North Industries Group, vowed to promote craftsmanship and train more highly skilled digital talent.
"At present, new quality productive forces are thriving and the modern industrial system is advancing rapidly, which pose higher demands on the skills of industrial workers. On the new journey of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, I will take the lead in promoting the spirit of craftsmanship, actively embrace digital and intelligent transformation, promote the integration of skills inheritance with smart manufacturing, deepen the integration of industry and education, and cultivate more master craftsmen and highly skilled digital talents," said Ma.
Wang Yucheng, a village official from east China's Zhejiang Province and NPC deputy, said rural initiatives in eco-tourism and benefit-sharing would provide grassroots models for common prosperity.
"We will vigorously develop new business such as eco-tourism and leisure agriculture, innovate benefit-sharing mechanisms, further improve infrastructure and public service, and promote an equitable access to basic public services. We will provide a vivid grassroots model for common prosperity," said Wang, head of Yucun Village Committee.
Chinese lawmakers, advisors back Xi's call for modernization
