There are moments that history will remember, and I've been fortunate to witness some of them during the past few days.

The most impressive clips of memory are three handshakes - one between the newly elected President Xi Jinping and his predecessor Hu Jintao, one between new Premier Li Keqiang and former premier Wen Jiabao and the third between the new leaders Xi and Li.

Though the handshakes lasted for only a few seconds, they signaled the completion of the once-in-a-decade power transfer, and the start of a new era for China - the world's most populous country and second-largest economy.

I was on the second floor of the Great Hall of the People, where reporters were allowed to sit during the National People's Congress plenary session, far away from the platform where the handshakes took place.

But I could still sense the clear messages behind the gestures. They carried the regrets of some unfinished tasks of the previous leadership, the resolution of the new leadership to tackle challenges ahead and the hope of the 1.37 billion Chinese people for a better future.

As a reporter, I have been cynical in many cases in my daily life and often complain about things that are unfair or difficult in China.

At those historic moments, however, I had tears in my eyes and suddenly realized how much I love the nation.

The previous time I had such a strong feeling was during my study in the United States years ago, when I was defending China against some human rights accusations from my foreign classmates.

And Sunday's news conference - the first public appearance of Premier Li and final chapter of this year's two sessions - gave me more confidence in a better China.

With a strong legal education background, Li stressed several times in his two-hour media meeting the importance of the rule of law and the determination to shake up vested interests. He also made "ensuring social fairness" one of the three top tasks of the new government, apart from maintaining economic growth and improving people's livelihoods.

In answer to my question about laojiao - the controversial re-education-through-labor system - Li promised that the practice, which allows police to confine people for up to four years without an open trial, will be reformed within this year.

These are definitely no easy tasks, and Premier Li said some tasks, such as shaking up vested interests, might be more difficult than "touching the soul".

But I have confidence. It's based on the historic demand of our times and repeated assertions from the new leaders since November about upholding of the country's Constitution.

More important, the confidence is from the people. The growing number of negative votes from the NPC deputies on proposed bills at the annual legislative session is a strong sign for China's future development.

(China Daily 03/18/2013 page4)