REPORT ON THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT

Delivered at the Second Session of the Thirteenth Beijing

Municipal People's Congress on January 12, 2009

Guo Jinlong

Mayor of Beijing

Fellow Deputies,

On behalf of the Beijing Municipal People's Government, I now submit a report on its work for your deliberation and approval and also ask the members of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) for your comments and suggestions on the report.

I. Review of the Work in 2008

The year 2008 was of special importance in the development history of the capital. Under the leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the State Council and the Beijing CPC Municipal Committee, the people in our city conscientiously implemented the guiding principles of the Seventeenth National Congress of the Party, thoroughly applied the Scientific Outlook on Development. With their attention firmly fixed on “accomplishing one important mission to create a favorable situation,” they worked hard together in a down-to-earth manner, made selfless contributions, satisfactorily fulfilled the tasks set at the First Session of the Thirteenth Beijing Municipal People's Congress and successfully realized the strategic concept of “New Beijing, Great Olympics,” thus ushering in a new phase of development for reform, opening up and modernization in the capital.

1. We successfully completed the preparations for the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games.

We resolutely implemented the instructions of the central authorities, and comprehensively put into practice the ideals of “environmentally-friendly, technology-empowered and culturally-enriched Olympics.” We persisted in hosting the Olympics through frugality and honesty, made innovations in the systems and mechanisms for preparing for the Olympics, promoted the integration of our functions and work, and met the goals for hosting unique and high-level Olympic and Paralympic Games to the satisfaction of the international community, the athletes from all countries, and the masses of the people, thus making major contributions to fulfilling a dream cherished by the Chinese nation for a century.

Olympic construction realized new achievements. After more than seven years of arduous efforts, we completed Olympic venues and related facilities with excellent quality and made the Bird's Nest (the National Stadium) and the Water Cube (National Aquatics Center) state-of-the-art structures, thus adding a glorious chapter to China's architectural annals. The first phase of the No. 10 subway line, the Olympic branch line and the subway line to Beijing Capital International Airport were placed into operation, raising the total rail transit lines in service in the city to 200 kilometers. The second Airport Expressway and the Beijing-Pinggu Expressway were opened to traffic, thus extending expressway links to every district and county of the city. Terminal 3 at Beijing Capital International Airport, the Beijing-Tianjin intercity passenger dedicated line and the new Beijing South Railway Station were put into operation. The main work on the Beijing section of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project was completed so that water from Hebei Province can now be diverted to Beijing. The “0811” Project for building a stronger power grid was finished, thus setting up the basic framework for a top-quality urban power grid. Taiyanggong and Zhengchangzhuang gas-fired cogeneration plants and Caoqiao Heating Supply Plant were completed and put into operation, increasing the city's central heating supply capacity by 26.8 million square meters. All this made us better able to provide urban infrastructure services.

The city operated in perfect order. Municipal services such as water, electricity, gas and heating facilities operated magnificently, and postal and telecommunications services and information networks ran smoothly and safely. We rigorously applied the system of dual leadership of the 2008 Beijing Olympics involving government departments with Olympic organizers, and seamlessly coordinated the operation of Olympic venues – both inside and outside the venues – and with zero incidents or obstructions occurring during any of the Games' events. We successfully prevented rain during the Olympics to ensure the success of the opening and closing ceremonies and all the Games' competitions. We conscientiously organized enforcement of the odd-even rule whereby vehicles with even-numbered license plates alternated days with odd-numbered vehicles, thus bringing traffic harmony both for the Olympics and for the general public and raising the number of passengers using public transit to 36.8% for the whole year. We did all we could to guarantee the supply of fresh and live agricultural products and the consumer market flourished and was stable. We comprehensively implemented three plans and set up a municipal government office to establish a control and monitoring platform, and significantly improved the city's operations and emergency services management.

Both urban and rural environments improved significantly. We strictly implemented measures to guarantee air quality during the Olympics, and air quality was up to standard every day during the Games and was at level 2 or better on 74.9% of days last year. There were genuinely no emissions of exhaust gases in the Olympic Common Domain during the Games. All household solid waste at Olympic venues was sorted, collected by category and disposed of at concentrated sites. The non-toxic disposal of household solid waste continued to improve, non-toxic household solid waste disposal in the inner city reached 93%, and 48% in outlying areas, and the utilization rate of reclaimed water reached 57%. We attached great importance to ecological conservation, reforested 5,267 hectares in mountain areas, increased the area of green spaces in the city by 518 hectares and brought the area of per capita public green space to 13.6 square meters.We effectively improved the environment in both urban and rural areas, and achieved substantial results in improving the environment in 60 outlying bitsaround the city, 102 administrative villageson the boundary between urban and rural areas, 117 main artery roads, a number of hutongs and old neighborhoods, thus rendering the city's environment cleaner and tidier and more beautiful.

High-quality and efficient services were guaranteed. We provided thoughtful and meticulous services to Olympics-related foreign visitors and their arrivals and departures at Beijing Capital International Airport were quick and convenient. The Olympic Village and Paralympic Village operated without incident, none of their services received any complaint whatsoever, and all ceremonial events proceeded flawlessly. The services of the Olympic family hotels and Olympic-certified hotels received many favorable reviews. We comprehensively implemented the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Food Safety Action Program to strengthen the overall monitoring of food safety all the way from the farm right to the dining table. As a result, no quality problems whatsoever arose with respect to Olympic food and drinks. We tightened public health controls, early warning and emergency aid and provided effective medical services for the Olympics and no major public health emergencies occurred in the city. Industries serving as Beijing's window on the world offered quality, sophisticated services, and tour agencies provided cordial and standardized services. Facilities for the disabled were constructed to high standards. We organized 400,000 disabled persons to participate in the activities of the Paralympic Games. Disabled persons enjoyed an enhanced level of service, and an even more pronounced atmosphere of care and respect for the disabled permeated the entire society.

Safe Olympics were entirely fulfilled. There was tight organizationof security, effective measures were adopted, and city residents extensively participated in the maintenance of public order. The city suffered no violent or terrorist incidents, major political incidents endangering national security and social stability or mass disturbances. Extensive efforts were made to identify and correct workplace hazards, steady progress was made in the 100-day supervision initiative, and safety monitoring was tightened over hazardous industries and enterprises. Consequently, the city had the smallest number of accidents and deaths from accidents in recent years. We improved food safety monitoring, detection and credibility systems, strictly enforced the access and monitoring standards for pharmaceuticals during their whole distribution process, and basically guaranteed safe foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals for the people. We formulated methods for implementing the Law on Responding to Emergencies, improved all kinds of contingency plans at all levels, organized comprehensive and special drills, and stepped up efforts to control risks to public security. Thus no major public emergencies arose during the entire year.

There was a civil and harmonious social ambience. Extensive efforts were made to “welcome the Olympics, stress civility and foster new attitudes,” and observing good manners, waiting one's turn in line and deferring to others became common practice, and the level of civility on the part of the city and its residents was manifestly higher than ever before. Some 1.7 million volunteers offered their help during the Beijing Olympic Games, and their number was larger than those for any other Olympic Games or for any other event in China. These volunteers served as a brand new cultural coordinate in Beijing. We conscientiously implemented the Olympic education plan and actively arranged government-sponsored spectators to view the Olympics. The atmosphere was friendly and warm during the Games. We provided quality services for news, publicity and media work and created a favorable press environment for the Olympics. We hosted all manner of extensive cultural activities and successfully held the Sixth Beijing Olympic Cultural Festival during which the Olympic Cultural Square Program and the cultural activities staged in the public area of the Beijing Olympic Park were rich and varied, giving expression to the charms of Chinese culture and promoting cultural exchanges between China and other countries.

2. We maintained sound and rapid economic and social development.

We resolutely implemented the decisions and arrangements of the central authorities, persisted in giving equal weight to both preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and economic and social development and making the two promote each other, maintained economic development and social harmony, and made achievements to benefit the people.

The capital's economy developed rapidly. According to preliminary estimates, Beijing's gross regional product (GRP) topped one trillion yuan, representing an increase of 9% over the previous year, and the per capita GRP exceeded US$ 8,000. The CPI hit 105.1%. Government revenue totaled 183.73 billion yuan, up 23.1%. Total investment in fixed assets was about 390 billion yuan, almost the same as the previous year. Consumer retail spending exceeded 450 billion yuan, up over 20%. Consumption played an ever-greater role in driving economic growth. We formulated and implemented the Guidelines for Promoting Development of the Financial Industry and the Tourism Industry in the Capital and accelerated the development of high-end industrial functional zones. Modern service industries grew rapidly, and the proportion of the economy accounted for by tertiary industry was about 73%. Shougang Group cut back production by four million tons, Beijing No. 2 Chemical Plant and Beijing Organic Chemical Plant closed down, and more and more small enterprises in five categories [small cement plants, thermal power plants, oil refineries, coalmines, and steel works that waste energy and cause serious pollution – Tr.] were eliminated. The task to make all kinds of buildings more energy-efficient was overfulfilled. The objectives of efforts to reduce energy and water consumption, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and sulfur dioxide emissions per 10,000 yuan of GRP were all attained. The capital's economy continued to maintain the good momentum of rapid growth, structural improvement and higher performance.

The building of a new socialist countryside made steady progress. The municipal government allocated 17.12 billion yuan for agriculture, rural areas and farmers, an increase of 4.06 billion yuan over the previous year. We fully carried out and strengthened all policies to aid agriculture, increased subsidies to grain producers by a large margin, extended coverage of the compensation mechanism for ecological forests and further improved policies on greenbelt areas. We generally attained our objective of appointing university graduates as officials for all administrative villages. We completed the formulation of development plans for 400 villages and strengthened development of infrastructure and public service facilities in rural areas. Villages generally enjoyed access to public transportation services and information networks, the objective of ensuring rural drinking water safety was completed two years ahead of schedule, and the household solid waste from plains villages was all disposed of in sealed containers. We formulated the Guidelines for Promoting the Reform of Collective Forest Rights, standardized and expanded specialized farmer cooperatives and accelerated reform of the property system of the rural collective economy. We carried out experiments with rural banks, rural mutual cooperatives and small loan companies, and extended policy-supported agricultural insurance coverage to more than 164,000 families. We promoted development of a modern agricultural service system, expanded channels for scientific and technological services in rural areas, and improved prevention and control of animal and plant diseases, veterinary medicine management and supervision of agricultural material market. We made great progress in protected agriculture, farm sightseeing and folklore tours. We formulated and implemented the Master Plan for Balanced Development of Mountain Areas, and initiated a mutual support mechanism between districts (counties). The new program to relocate people from uninhabitable mountain areas progressed smoothly, fresh achievements were made in comprehensively improving small river valleys and remediating exhausted mines, and development of eco-reserves was accelerated.

Social programs developed and flourished. The municipal government spent 33.76 billion yuan on education, science, technology, medical care, culture and sports, up 19.2% from the previous year. As we extended the “two exemptions and one allowance” program [exemption from paying for textbooks, exemption from paying for tuition and fees and allowances for room and board for students living on campus – Tr.] to a broader range of students receiving compulsory education; we also exempted urban students with urban residence status from paying for miscellaneous educational fees and rural students without nonagricultural status from paying textbook fees. We completed the standardization of 100 primary schools, improved the living conditions of 140 rural boarding schools, and raised the salaries of primary and secondary school teachers in mountain areas. We instituted the basic framework of a multilevel financial aid system for students; this has helped 240,000 needy students afford an education. We continued to strengthen our work to ensure that children of migrant workers in Beijing receive compulsory education. We promulgated and implemented the Outline of the Long- and Medium-term Development Program for Science and Technology. In hosting technology-empowered Olympics, we made a number of important advances in innovation and maintained a rapid growth in the number of patents filed and in trade in technologies in the city. We completed the work to standardize all community health services and the reform to separate revenue from expenditures in these institutions. We spent 280 million yuan to provide standardized equipment for health centers in 187 towns and townships and clinics in 1,391 villages. We adopted a number of measures to facilitate patients' access to doctors. The government paid for village-level medical and health services for rural residents, and resolved the issue of the low basic benefits and lack of a retirement pension plan for rural doctors. We deepened reform of the cultural system by accelerating transformation of film companies into stock companies, incorporating the Beijing Theatrical Performance Group, and fostering creation of cultural brand names. To boost cultural development in urban communities and in rural villages, we built a large number of public cultural facilities. The first 33 museums and memorial halls were opened to the public gratis. The Weekend Theatrical Performance Project and the Theatrical Performance Spark Project were both launched successfully. We finished submission of files for those nominated for inscription to the Chinese National Intangible Heritage list. Broadcasting and TV, the press and publishing, literature and art, philosophy and the social sciences developed and flourished. We completed the construction of exercise facilities in all incorporated villages to meet the needs of the public. Extensive mass sports activities were carried out. Beijing athletes won 15 medals at the Olympic Games and 19 medals at the Paralympic Games.

The people's lives continued to improve. Per capita disposable income reached 24,725 yuan for urban residents, an increase of 7% in real terms, and 10,747 yuan for rural residents, an increase of 6.5% in real terms. We energetically worked to create job opportunities – a total of 420,000 jobs were created in urban areas and the registered unemployment rate was 1.82%. We improved the employment support system, helped 101,000 people who had difficulty finding jobs get employed and 105,000 rural workers find nonagricultural employment, and basically eliminated zero-employment households in both urban and rural areas. We promoted the real-name system to manage rural migrant workers and set up a system of reserve requirements for paying wages, fees for labor services and the wage account to guarantee payment of wages for migrants working in the construction industry and eliminate late or non-payment of wages. We granted old-age allowances to urban and rural residents aged 60 and over who are not entitled to social security, comprehensively put into operation the new old-age insurance system for rural residents and the system of medical insurance against major diseases for jobless urban residents, and extended old-age and medical security systems to cover all urban and rural residents. We adopted the “one decrease and three increases” scheme [decrease in co-pay for outpatient services and increases in reimbursement rates for prescriptions from community clinics, for expensive medical materials and for artificial organs–Tr.] to benefit medical insurance beneficiaries. We improved the medical insurance policy for the elderly and the young against major diseases. We raised the reimbursement rates for outpatient services covered under the new type of rural cooperative medical care system. All these measures have effectively eased the burden of medical expenses on the people. We devised a system of subsistence allowances for rural residents and raised social security benefits for urban residents. We were the first in China to initiate the Social Security Card Project. We gave preferential treatment to senior citizens and subsidized old-age services. In addition, we achieved further progress in social welfare, civilian employment of ex-service personnel, charities and the work of the Red Cross. We accelerated the process of screening applications for low-income housing and renting or selling such housing to those that qualify, and ensured completion of construction on the eight million square meters of low-rent and low-cost housing or price-ceiling commodity housing as planned. We renovated 121,000 square meters of hazardous housing for 4,049 urban households and revamped old housing for 1,279 rural households. We explored new ways to protect urban historical and cultural zones. In order to improve the zones for the preservation of cultural and historical relics in an orderly way, we renovated 44 hutongs and 1,954 courtyard homes in the old city. We promulgated the Program for Social Development, and launched an extensive campaign to create harmonious neighborhoods, villages and community organizations, all of which has led to new progress in social development. To step up efforts to investigate and resolve disputes and conflicts, we arranged reception days for leading officials at all levels to listen to and deal with complaints from the public, conducted extensive investigations and thorough examinations to resolve significant issues, launched a special project to address repeated complaints expressed in letters and calls, and cleared long-pending cases of complaints from the public. Thanks to the common efforts of the districts, counties, departments and organizations, we settled all the 59 important matters we had promised to deal with for the masses, and attained all the objectives of no zero-employment households, no hazardous urban housing, no cases of significant complaints, no gaps in the provision of relief services and no late or non-payment of wages.

Reform and opening up recorded further progress. We formulated guidelines for deepening reform of the administrative system and plans for restructuring the municipal government agencies, and made steady progress in reform of government institutions and in government procurement of public services on a trial basis. We made important progress in the reform of the fiscal management system of revenue sharing between the municipal government and the district and county governments, promoted the increase in the financial resources of district and county governments, and ensured that their financial powers better matched their responsibilities. We accelerated the pace to adjust, transform, divest and close state-owned enterprises, worked hard to adjust the distribution of state capital and restructure and reorganize state-owned enterprises, and constantly standardized the budget for revenue and expenditures of state capital and the appraisal management of state assets. We set aside government funds to direct venture capital investment to them and established a reinsuring agency for them. New breakthroughs came in setting up an investment and financing platform and a production factor market. We continued to help Zhongguancun Science Park grow better and stronger. The innovative system in which the business community plays the leading role constantly improved. We worked to help more products with domestically-held intellectual property rights and with Chinese brand names enter international markets and vigorously facilitated the supply of outsourcing services. The city's total imports and exports increased rapidly. We made major progress in using foreign investment as venture capital for startup ventures and for environmental protection and pharmaceuticals, actually utilizing more than US$ six billion, an increase of over 20%. We provided excellent services for the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting, and made fresh achievements in such economic and trade activities as the 10th China Beijing International High-Tech Expo, the China Beijing International Cultural and Creative Industry Expo and the 12th Beijing Hong-Kong Economic Cooperation Symposium. We deepened the “four services” and provided the agencies of the central authorities and Beijing-based army units with services with respect to 390 important affairs.

Democracy and the legal system were strengthened. The Municipal People's Government and its agencies fully implemented the resolutions of the Municipal People's Congress and its Standing Committee, submitted good special work reports to the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress and conscientiously accepted the oversight by the People's Congress. We carefully listened to the comments of the democratic parties, the Municipal Federation of Industry and Commerce, persons without party affiliation and mass organizations. We actively attended the meetings of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC Municipal Committee and its conferences on state affairs. Altogether, we handled 1,517 bills and proposals from deputies to national and municipal people's congresses and 1,175 proposals and suggestions from the Standing Committee of the Municipal CPPCC Committee. We promoted openness in government information, improved the rules and procedures for making major decisions by keeping the public informed and holding public hearings before making decisions, and strengthened oversight work by adopting more rigorous auditing. We improved the self-governance system for the people at the primary level and worked hard to make village and factory affairs more transparent. We strengthened government legislation, submitted five local statutes to the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress for deliberation, passed or revised eight government regulations, and Olympic legislation and relevant laws and regulations were effectively implemented, thus creating a favorable legal environment for successfully hosting the Olympics. We continued to strengthen our administrative reviews. We effectively launched campaigns to educate the people in law, and improved the system of pro bono legal services. We faithfully followed our country's policies on work related to religious and ethnic groups, effectively protected the legitimate rights and interests of returned overseas Chinese and their relatives, and promoted exchanges and cooperation in many fields with Taiwan. We pursued according to law the policy of rewards and preferential treatment towards observance of family planning regulations to hold the birthrate low. Sound progress came in developing programs for women and children and senior citizens. We strengthened the army reserves for national defense and made extensive efforts to encourage government agencies and the public to support the army and give preferential treatment to families of service personnel and martyrs, urge the army to support the government and respect civilians, and support the army and the people in working together to promote cultural and ethical progress.We completed the construction of the asphalt road project for the Beijing-based PLA units. The PLA troops stationed in Beijing and Armed Police officers and soldiers contributed greatly to the preparations for the Olympics and to the modernization of the city.

Fellow Deputies,

Unexpected snow and ice storms hit some areas of the south and devastating Wenchuan earthquake hit Sichuan Province when we were at the crucial stage of preparing for the Olympics. Answering the call of the Party Central Committee and the State Council, the people in the capital sprang into immediate action and made extensive efforts to provide disaster relief. Donations of money and materials from people from all walks of life reached 2.363 billion yuan. Large numbers of firefighters, medical workers, experts from various fields and volunteers hastened to the quake-hit areas to provide rescue and relief efforts to quake victims and treat people injured in the quake. People from top to bottom in the city coordinated their efforts in making proper arrangements for quake injured and students who came to Beijing for medical treatment or continued study, and successfully completed the task of producing 66,600 temporary dwellings for quake-hit areas. Steady progress was made in supporting the after-quake reconstruction efforts in the city of Shifang. We conscientiously implemented the work plans for aid projects and the overall framework agreement, and allocated a total of 2.498 billion yuan, achieving smooth progress in all aid projects. Our support to Shifang in the current stage has been a great success.

Faced with the grim challenge posed by drastic changes in the international and domestic economic situations since last October, we have resolutely implemented the central authorities' decisions and arrangements, and formulated and implemented without delay 29 specific measures in order to sustain steady and rapid economic development in the capital. We planned for about 140 billion yuan of investment from the municipal and district (county) governments in 2009 and 2010 which is expected to encourage nongovernmental sources to invest 1,000 billion yuan. We made plans for some special work designed to boost domestic demand, and introduced many policies for increasing social security benefits, lowering contributions to social security funds and so on, thus providing strong guarantees for maintaining economic growth and promoting people's wellbeing.

Fellow Deputies,

After our practice over the past year, we are more deeply aware that in order to do all of our work well, we must thoroughly apply the Scientific Outlook on Development, resolutely adhere to the major policies and principles of the central authorities and follow guidelines they issued on work for Beijing, continue to deepen our understanding of the features in Beijing's economic and social development and the laws governing it, and carry out our work in a creative way by staying firmly grounded on actual conditions. Moreover, we have achieved a new understanding.

First, we must inherit the legacies of the 2008 Olympics and consolidate its achievements. The preparation and hosting of the 2008 Olympics successfully demonstrated the Scientific Outlook on Development, leaving extremely precious material and intellectual legacies behind which shall serve as a powerful engine driving the long-term prosperity of the capital. We must definitely learn from, build on and consolidate the experience we gained in preparing for the Olympics, and cherish and promote the Olympic spirit. We especially need to stick to the three concepts of the 2008 Olympics and accelerate development of a culturally-enriched, technology-empowered and environmentally-friendly Beijing.

Second, we must sharpen our awareness of Beijing as the capital of China and broaden our view in an international way. Having fully enjoyed the advantages in its development as the capital of our country, Beijing must fulfill its “four services” obligations completely and adhere to the Olympic standards so as to ensure higher quality in all our work. We must become more keenly aware of its role as a city representing China to the world, adopt a global view and a strategic vision, take an even more active stance in the world, and accelerate the building of Beijing into a modern international city.

Third, we must always put people first and give full play to the role of the people of our city. We must always put the fundamental interests of the people first, spare no efforts to solve the most specific problems of the utmost and immediate concern to the people, and ensure development better benefits the people. We must respect the people's role, give play to their creative spirit, strive to improve the systems and mechanisms of government service and management and social organization and mobilization, and rely on the people to promote development in a scientific way and to promote social harmony.

Fourth, we must take all factors into consideration and become better able to balance interests. We must thoroughly investigate and scientifically understand all the relationships involved in the capital's modernization. We must identify the interests of all sides, consciously apply the fundamental method of taking all factors into consideration, locate the point of equilibrium for our decisions, policies and work, and pool the wisdom and strength of all sides, give full play to the enthusiasm and creativity of everyone, and strive to create a mutually beneficial win-win situation in which they complement each other.

Fifth, we must accelerate innovation of administration and improve governmental efficiency. In accordance with the requirements of building a service-oriented government, we must accelerate reform of the administrative system, focus on changing the way the government functions, further improve the division of responsibilities among government departments, and improve public administration and public services. Intensive efforts need to be made to promote management innovation, establish a sound mechanism of coordination and cooperation between departments, strengthen basic work, standardize administrative behavior, lower administrative costs and improve administrative efficiency and service levels.

We must be keenly aware that there are still quite a few problems in the capital's economic and social development and in government work. The main ones are as follows: We need to further economic restructuring, become better able to independently innovate, and further improve our pattern of development. There is still a huge development gap between urban and rural areas, between different areas and between different districts (counties). We still have a long way to go to balance development between urban and rural areas, between the northern and southern halves of the city, and between plains and mountain areas and to integrate urban and rural economic and social development. The city's capacity to provide services needs constant improvement, and administration systems and mechanisms need further innovation. We still have to further increase the capital's cultural soft power and improve culture as a productive force, and we must keep working to turn our cultural advantages into actual productive forces. We need to accelerate efforts to address issues affecting the immediate interests of the public, such as employment, the social safety net, income distribution, compulsory education, public health, housing guarantee, food and drugs, and industrial safety. We need to step up efforts to promote reform in key areas and crucial links, and we still have to do hard work to improve the environment. The transformation of government functions has not yet been completed; and administrative efficiency and service levels need further improvement. Much work has to be done to build a services-oriented government.

We must remain clear-headed, be more mindful of potential danger, pay close attention to serious conflicts and problems in the course of development and constantly resolve them, and work harder to do all our government work well so as to live up to the trust of both the deputies to the Municipal People's Congress and members of the Municipal Committee of the CPPCC and to satisfy the expectations of the Party and the people.

Fellow Deputies,

Achievements over the last year have attracted worldwide attention but did not come easily. They are the fruits of the firm leadership of the Party Central Committee and the State Council and also the strong support of the people of the whole nation and the mighty guarantee of the system of nationwide support and are further a distillation of the wisdom of all the people of Beijing and their painstaking efforts, sparing neither their blood nor sweat. On behalf of the Municipal People's Government, I would like to express my highest respects and heartfelt thanks to the people of all the city's ethnic groups, deputies to the People's Congress, members of the CPPCC Committee, the democratic parties, mass organizations, and people from all walks of life in the city, to the departments under the central government, our sister provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the central government, and the Beijing-based PLA and Armed Police officers and soldiers, to Olympic volunteers, and to our compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan and overseas Chinese, and our international friends who care about and support the capital's development.