HOHHOT -- Zhao Leji, China's top legislator, has urged people's congresses across the country to fulfill their duties to advance the country's economic and social development, and to carry out reform tasks.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee and a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks while conducting an investigation and research tour in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region from Monday to Thursday.

During the tour, Zhao visited communities and enterprises to speak with lawmakers and members of the public, and inspected the regional people's congress and the municipal people's congress in Arxan.

Zhao called on people's congresses to uphold the Party's overall leadership, implement the CPC Central Committee's instructions, and advance legislative, oversight and deputy-related tasks.

People's congresses should also heed public opinion, operate in strict compliance with the law, improve their working style, and participate actively in a Party-wide education campaign on enforcing the rules of Party conduct, he said.

Zhao led an inspection team to look into the enforcement of the Forest Law in Inner Mongolia.

Noting that Inner Mongolia is the largest and most diverse ecosystem service zone in northern China, Zhao stressed the importance of implementing the Forest Law faithfully, of advancing natural forest conservation and artificial forestation continuously, and of making persistent efforts to increase the total volume and overall quality of forest resources.

Efforts should also be made to enhance forest-fire prevention and pest control, and to transform the forestry industry on the basis of safeguarding ecological security, he said.