BEIJING -- Senior Chinese leaders Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Han Zheng, and Li Xi on Sunday attended deliberations at the first session of the 14th National People's Congress, China's national legislature.

They stressed the significance of establishing Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole, and of establishing the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

They also gave their support for the government work report delivered by Premier Li Keqiang at the opening meeting of the session.

When joining NPC deputies from Yunnan province in a group deliberation, Li Qiang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, urged staying true to the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability and stepping up efforts to promote high-quality development.

He stressed giving priority to ensuring stable growth, employment and prices and promoting a full economic recovery this year.

In addition to calling for good work in COVID response in the new phase, he urged efforts to expand domestic demand, vigorously advance technological innovation, and better ensure and improve people's wellbeing.

Reforms should be deepened unswervingly, with further reform of state-owned capital and state-owned enterprises and support for the growth of the private sector, he said.

Efforts should also be made to promote high-standard opening up and foster a business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized, he noted.