Facing problems in a frank manner is the first step toward solving them. In this year's government work report presented to the annual session of the National People's Congress (NPC) on Saturday, Premier Wen Jiabao not only talked about what the government has achieved in the past year, he also elaborated on the hard nuts the government has yet to crack.

This is the attitude a government must take when it really means to serve the interests of the people.

In the report, Premier Wen admitted that there is much to be desired when it comes to the balanced distribution of inadequate education and healthcare resources, the too high property prices, the illegal requisition of land and demolition of civil houses, food safety and corruption among government officials. He promised that the central government will make greater efforts to solve these problems this year.

It doesn't do much to help the country if the government authorities just go through the formality of chattering about what has been achieved at the annual sessions of the NPC and CPPCC once a year. Neither would it be meaningful for NPC deputies and CPPCC members to gather once a year just to mouth empty talk and praise.

Only by putting on the table the problems, such as the irrational mix of industries, the lack of innovative capability in science and technology, the inadequate input into education, and so on, for deputies and members to discuss will the government be able to identify where the root cause of the problems are and find the best solutions.

Talking about the errors and things to be desired does not diminish the achievements that have been made. And it is more than natural for a government of such a populous country as China to commit errors and have problems in its work, especially when the country is in a transitional stage from a planned economy to a market one.

We are happy to hear that Premier Wen Jiabao is sincere and frank in listing the range of problems that affect the quality of people's lives and that he is confident in achieving results when promising to address them.

The two annual sessions are an occasion for the central government to collect the opinions of NPC deputies and CPPCC members, who represent people from all walks of life nationwide. And for the participants, that are playing their role on behalf of the people they represent, to offer opinions and advice based on public concerns.

The frankness and sincerity on the part of the government will win the trust of the NPC deputies and CPPCC members, who will then take the same attitude when offering their opinions or advice. On this basis there can be serious and meaningful political discourse at both sessions.

This is exactly what the Chinese people expect of the two sessions and also how they will concretely improve the government's work.

(China Daily 03/07/2011 page9)