Full coverage: 2017 NPC & CPPCC Sessions

Full coverage: China’s Leaders

(Source: CGTN)

President Xi Jinping spoke with deputies from Shanghai at the annual session of the National People's Congress. During their discussion, delegates expressed their views on Shanghai's economic and social development. Issues covered included the strengthening of rural grass-roots governance, reform of the financial system, and the deepening of educational reform.

Chinese President Xi Jinping joins a panel discussion with deputies to the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) from Shanghai Municipality at the annual session of the NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2017. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

President Xi said that Shanghai should remain at the forefront of China's reform and opening-up, and should continue to make progress in the fields of science and technology innovation and social governance. Xi added that Shanghai's free-trade pilot zone remains of significant importance to the country as a whole in the context of the current global instability.