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Key agenda at China's NPC
HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- The First Session of the 10th National People's Congress opens in Beijing on March 5. In an annual demonstration of socialist democracy with Chinese characteristics, nearly 3,000 newly elected deputies will deliberate over a host of matters of state. Highlights of the two-week-long parliamentary session include: • Election of principal state and government leaders including the president and vice-president, the prime minister and members of his cabinet, as well as the leaders of the State Central Military Commission (CMC). Communist party chief Hu Jintao is tipped to become state president, Vice-premier Wen Jiabao will be promoted premier, and outgoing President Jiang Zemin is expected to remain CMC Chairman. • Passage of a major proposal to streamline the administrative structure and render government functions "more open, efficient and market-oriented." • The legislature will approve policies to further liberalize the economy -- for example, a new department and system to manage and possibly privatize state assets. • Outgoing premier Zhu Rongji will deliver his last state-of-the government report in which he is expected to substantiate claims that goals set out five years ago have been accomplished. • Upon becoming premier at the end of the NPC on March 18, the low-profile Wen will give his first press conference to international media. • Wen will unveil a package of economic policies to maintain a growth rate of at least 7 percent and to ensure a new deal for the nation's relatively poor peasants.
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