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Chinese parliament meeting opens Chinese parliament meeting opens
(about 1 hour later)
The meeting of China's legislature - the National People's Congress (NPC) - has opened in Beijing with a speech by the Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao. The meeting of China's legislature - the National People's Congress (NPC) - has opened in Beijing with a report by the Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao.
Nearly 3,000 delegates are attending the annual two-week meeting. Mr Wen said China would do more to save energy, cut pollution and continue the country's stellar economic growth.
Correspondents say the congress is a symbolic organisation with little power, but it offers a guide to issues at the top of the government's agenda. He promised to reduce the gap between wealthy cities and poorer rural areas.
This year, these include the growing gaps between rich and poor, and between the cities and the countryside. Correspondents say the report goes to the heart of the government's pledge to focus more on sustainable development than rapid economic growth at any cost.
Public anger about the problem is rising and in recent years, there has been a big increase in the number of protests about social concerns. In his address to nearly 3,000 delegates at the Great Hall of the People, Mr Wen delivered his annual work report focusing on government plans to fine-tune China's economy.
He projected that the GDP would grow by about 8% in 2007 but the need to shun growth for growth's sake and to make the nation's economy greener was a recurring theme.
We must safeguard social fairness and justice, and ensure that all of the people share in the fruits of reform and development Prime Minister Wen Jiabao
"We should... avoid seeking only faster growth and competing for faster growth," he said at the opening of the 12-day session.
Mr Wen called for a greater effort to protect the environment, after China missed its targets to improve energy efficiency and pollution levels last year.
"The pattern of economic growth is inefficient. This can be seen most clearly in excessive energy consumption and serious environmental pollution.
"We must attach greater importance to saving energy and resources, protecting the environment and using land intensively," he said.
In a speech that lasted more than two hours, China's premier also acknowledged that ordinary people were being sacrificed in the rush for riches.
"We must... safeguard social fairness and justice, and ensure that all of the people share in the fruits of reform and development."
'Landmark law''Landmark law'
The NPC meets once a year to endorse the policies of the ruling Communist Party.The NPC meets once a year to endorse the policies of the ruling Communist Party.
Delegates have gathered at the Great Hall of the People, on Tiananmen Square. Mr Wen said a law ending preferential tax rates for foreign companies would be passed.
During this session, it is also expected to pass a landmark law that would protect private property for the first time - an important step in the Communist Party's transition to a market economy. Another law expected to be passed, but not mentioned by Mr Wen, would give unprecedented protection for private property rights - an important step in the Communist Party's transition to a market economy.
The BBC's Daniel Griffiths in Beijing says the meeting will be closely watched ahead of a major Communist Party gathering in the autumn when President Hu Jintao is expected to carry out a reshuffle to further strengthen his position. A day after the government announced that the military budget would rise 17.8% in 2007, Mr Wen said China would continue to strengthen its armed forces.
The BBC's Daniel Griffiths in Beijing says it is an ambitious wish list and China's politicians have made similar promises in the past without much success.
The meeting will also be closely watched ahead of a major Communist Party gathering in the autumn when President Hu Jintao is expected to carry out a reshuffle to further strengthen his position, our correspondent says.