The government will continue to process suggestions and proposals from national legislators and political advisers this year to improve government work, according to those at a State Council executive meeting on April 28.

Those at the meeting heard a report on processing suggestions from deputies to the National People's Congress and proposals from members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference from the 2019 two sessions.

Premier Li Keqiang said at the meeting that processing suggestions from NPC deputies and proposals from CPPCC members is important for the government to perform duties according to the law, accept the people's supervision, and practice scientific and democratic governance.

He asked all departments under the State Council to continue to handle suggestions and proposals and listen carefully to public opinions to improve governance in a more targeted way.

Last year, 7,162 suggestions by NPC deputies and 3,281 proposals by CPPCC members were processed under the lead of the State Council, making up 87.8 percent and 85 percent of the total, respectively, leading to more than 1,500 policies and measures in aspects such as poverty alleviation, innovation, administrative reform and the growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

NPC deputies’ suggestions and CPPCC members’ proposals reflect voices from the public, and the government should improve its efficiency of handling the suggestions and proposals, the Premier said.

The more important purpose is to improve government work by continually soliciting public opinions and accepting supervision, he said.

Premier Li said that NPC deputies and CPPCC members are from all walks of society and many of them are experts in their own fields and their suggestions and proposals should be carefully considered. Related departments should actively adopt their suggestions, and offer explanations on which cannot be adopted immediately.

The Premier also required related departments to make schedules for solving problems, improving processing quality, and taking action on hot issues and difficulties raised by the public and market entities.

He further said that standing books should be made to supervise processing work, and promised work will be carried out as soon as possible, in an effort to strengthen enterprises’ and people’s sense of gain.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, related departments are spending less time on their survey work at the grassroots level than in previous years. Since the deputies and members are from various regions and industries, their suggestions and proposals are among the most direct channels to collect social information and public opinions, the Premier noted.

The Premier also asked related departments to combine processing of suggestions and proposals with administrative work.

He urged related departments to focus on soliciting advice guaranteeing residential employment, people’s basic livelihoods, market entities, security of grains and energy, stability of industrial and supply chains and operations at grassroots levels.

Focus also should be put on stabilizing employment, finance, foreign trade, foreign investment, domestic investment and market expectations.

Suggestions and proposals from the deputies and members should be turned into policies and measures to advance epidemic control and the country’s development, he added.

Then the Premier underlined efforts to keep communication with the deputies and members in handling their suggestions and proposals via approaches such as invitation to surveys, symposiums and visits, to establish a smooth communication channel between them and government departments.

Besides, related departments should make public replies to suggestions and proposals involving public benefit, and respond to issues of public concern in a timely manner.

The country’s development is facing unprecedented challenges, the Premier said, adding that processing the suggestions and proposals is an important measure to deal with the challenges, and a valuable opportunity to promote government work.

The government should carefully listen to people’s opinions through soliciting advice from the deputies and members, and boost the confidence of all society through forging consensuses, to make government work more targeted, practical and effective, he said.