10. Strengthening efforts to promote clean government and combat corruption

Building clean government is a long-term yet urgent task as well as the ardent hope of the people. We will act more quickly to solve serious problems in combating corruption and promoting clean government, effectively develop the system for preventing and punishing corruption, and make investigating and dealing with large and major corruption cases an important measure in fighting corruption while also paying closer attention to institutional development.

First, we will conscientiously clear up problems related to government employees who abuse power for personal gain, neglect their duties, or infringe upon others’ rights. In regard to problems in key areas such as construction, sale of land-use rights, exploitation of mineral resources, trading of state-owned property rights, and government procurement, we will intensify investigations and prosecutions of violations of the law or discipline and resolutely punish corruptionists.

Second, we will genuinely increase incorruptibility and self-discipline; conscientiously implement the Code of Conduct for Building Clean and Honest Government; and implement the system whereby leading cadres regularly report their incomes, real estate and investments, as well as what their spouses and children do and whether they live abroad; and voluntarily accept supervision. We will strengthen auditing and supervision work. We will strengthen oversight over leading cadres of government organizations and leaders of SOEs and institutions.

Third, we will resolutely oppose extravagance, waste and formalism. We will reduce the number of meetings and documents and streamline and standardize all sorts of activities, such as reaching standards, making evaluations, and awarding commendations as well as forums and celebrations, by strictly controlling such expenses. We will standardize the allocation and management of official cars and actively reform the system of their use. We will more quickly release government budgets to the people to keep them informed about how much the government spends and what it spends money on.

Governments at all levels need to work hard to accomplish practical results for the people; and all public servants should genuinely become servants of the people.

Fellow Deputies,

Consolidating and developing the great unity of all our ethnic groups is a fundamental guarantee for the long-term stability and prosperity of the country and serves the fundamental interests of the people of all ethnic groups. We will adhere to and improve the system of regional ethnic autonomy and fully implement the central leadership's policies and measures for supporting the development of ethnic minorities and ethnic minority areas. We will formulate and implement a five-year plan to support development of ethnic groups with small populations, press ahead with the "bring prosperity to border areas and their residents" campaign, and develop programs for ethnic minorities. Let the people of all ethnic groups work hard together and write a new chapter of the history of development and prosperity of the Chinese nation.

We will comprehensively implement the Party's basic policy on religious work, thoroughly implement the Regulations on Supervising Religious Affairs, and get religious figures and believers to play an active role in promoting economic development and social harmony.

We will continue to improve our work related to overseas Chinese affairs. We will protect the just rights and interests of overseas Chinese and the legitimate rights and interests of returned overseas Chinese and their families, and make full use of their unique role in promoting the reunification of the motherland and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Fellow Deputies, Strengthening national defense and building a powerful people's army are important guarantees for safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests and building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Keeping the overall work of the Party and government firmly in mind and directing our attention to effectively carrying out the army's historic mission in this new century and this new stage, we need to comprehensively make our army more revolutionary, modern and standardized, and constantly enhance its capability to accomplish a range of military tasks, the most paramount of which is winning local wars under information age conditions. We will steadfastly give top priority to raising the overall ideological and political standards of the army. We will vigorously adapt our military training to the information age. We will accelerate the full modernization of the logistics support system. We will promote integrated military and civilian development, increase defense-related research, and strengthen the development of weapons and equipment. We will energetically yet prudently press ahead with reform of national defense and the military. We will steadfastly run the army with strict discipline and in accordance with the law. The military will resolutely carry out urgent, difficult, dangerous and daunting tasks, such as handling emergencies and relieving disasters. We will modernize the armed police force to improve its ability to carry out duties, respond to emergencies, combat terrorism and safeguard stability. We will strengthen defense mobilization and reserve forces. We will consolidate and develop unity between the army and the government and between the army and the people.