Foreign ambassadors and United Nations' representatives in Beijing said that the ongoing annual political sessions help to further boost China's development and its ties with the world, as the global recession highlights China's booming economy and responsibility as a major power.

The National People's Congress, China's parliament, opened on Monday, after the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, the top political advisory body, began on Saturday.

Having witnessed the two sessions of the NPC and CPPCC three times, Turkish Ambassador Murat S. Esenli said that he observed the multifaceted demographic makeup of China taking part in the legislative process of the world's most populous country.

China's economy has continued to perform strongly amid the very difficult times since the global financial crisis of 2008 and has made enormous contributions to the world, said New Zealand Ambassador to China Carl Worker after listening to Premier Wen Jiabao's government work report on Monday.

"I think the premier is very clear about (the continuous difficulties in the international situation) ... China signals very clearly where its direction is going. That is one of the things that gives its partners, such as New Zealand, confidence," he said.

According to Bulgarian Ambassador Georgi Peychinov, the biggest challenge is to keep the pace of China's economic development in step with the social demands of the people.

A UN representative said that it was encouraging to see from the 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-15) released last year, that there has been a marked shift in the Chinese government's focus on the quality in addition to the amount of growth.

"Many of the targets set in the 12th Five-Year Plan released last year, such as extending pension coverage to 357 million urban residents and full coverage for rural residents, or the reduction of major pollutant emissions by 8 to 10 percent over five years, clearly signal that the government is determined to improve quality of life," said Renata Lok-Dessallien, UN resident coordinator and the United Nations Development Programme resident representative in China.

The UN will continue to work alongside China to address inequality, a potential hindrance to growth and stability, and to pursue sustainable development for better living standards for Chinese, she added.

Meanwhile, China is expected to take a bigger role in the international community amid the global recession and regional instability.

"It is a time of financial crisis in Europe. I hope China can play a bigger role internationally to help other countries fight the challenges of the economic crisis and help others to maintain sustainable development," Peychinov said.

Gul Hussain Ahmadi, minister counselor of Afghanistan's embassy, said: "Nowadays China plays a more crucial and constructive role in the world, especially in my country. I hope China can play a bigger role in both economic and political fields on the international stage."

China Daily

(China Daily 03/07/2012 page5)