China's top political leader Xi Jinping and other senior leaders on Wednesday joined lawmakers and political advisers in panel discussions on the Government Work Report.

The report was delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao at the annual legislative session on Tuesday.

While joining national legislators from Northeast China's Liaoning province to deliberate on the report during the first session of the 12th National People's Congress, the top legislature, Xi urged implementing the strategy of revitalizing old industrial bases in Northeast China and improving people's social security and well-being.

The soon-to-retire Premier Wen Jiabao expressed gratitude on Wednesday for having the chance to serve the Chinese people, and expressed confidence in his successor.

He made the remarks while attending a panel discussion with deputies from Southwest China's Sichuan province at the first session of the 12th National People's Congress, the country's national legislature.

"As I am about to retire, I have deep respect and gratitude for the people. I hope our country's future will be better and better and that its people will be happier and happier," he said.

Quoting an ancient Chinese poem suggesting that young birds sing more beautifully than older ones, he said he believes his successor will do a better job than he did.

Vice-Premier Li Keqiang said during a panel discussion with lawmakers from Hunan province that the development of the central region is of strategic importance in the country's regional development.

Li called for better integration of economic development with environmental protection.

Yu Zhengsheng, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said the central government will continue to support the implementation of the "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong and Macao.

Yu made the remarks in a panel discussion with political advisers from Hong Kong and Macao during the ongoing annual session of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

Liu Yunshan, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, urged upholding and improving the socialist system with Chinese characteristics during a panel discussion with lawmakers from North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

Wang Qishan, the anti-graft chief of the CPC, on Wednesday reiterated the significance of the fight against corruption, saying it is vital to the survival of the Party.

"The building of a Party work style and a clean government as well as the fight against corruption concerns the life and death of the Party, which requires the endeavors of the whole Party," said Wang, secretary of the CPC's Central Commission for Discipline Inspection.

"Improper conduct is the hotbed of corruption. We must resolutely oppose formalism, bureaucratism and hedonism," Wang said while participating in a panel discussion with legislators from Beijing at the ongoing annual session of the country's top legislature.

In his discussion with the NPC deputies from Tianjin, Zhang Gaoli, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, urged to improve the quality and efficiency of economic growth and promote a sustained and healthy development of the economy.

(China Daily 03/07/2013 page2)