国内英语新闻：China legislature hears cabinet reports on five-year plan, financial crisis

    BEIJING, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- The National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, heard here on Wednesday a series of reports including the implementation of the 11th five-year plan and the impact of the world financial crisis.

    Wu Bangguo, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, attended the conference.

    Zhang Ping, minister in charge of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), delivered a report on how the Chinese government has implemented the Outline of the 11th Five-Year Program for National Economic and Social Development (2006-2010).

The Second plenary session of the sixth session of the 11th Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on Dec. 24, 2008.

    The implementation has been going well, with most of the goals being reached as scheduled at the middle stage, he said.

    He urged more attention to be paid on expanding domestic demand, increasing innovative ability, continuing reforms on resource prices and taxes, energy saving and emission reduction, as well as increasing the government's ability to provide public services.

    Zhang also gave a report on how the intensifying impact of the world financial and economic crisis is reverberating through China's economy.

    Other reports included efforts to stabilize prices and prevent price hikes addressed by NDRC vice head Zhang Mao, as well as water pollution prevention and control by Environmental Protection Minister Zhou Shengxian.