Chinese public see progress from tough debate in "two sessions"

Source: Xinhua | 03-17-2009 09:06

BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese netizen "Yannong" was impressed by academician Wang Enduo's "pickiness" during the just-concluded annual "two sessions".

Wang, a deputy attending the Second Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC), the top legislature, was unhappy with the budget report of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

That ministry said one third of its total spending in 2009 would go to "other affairs." Wang wondered what they were and how the money would be spent.

"Deputies are challenging the government on specific issues," said Yannong on his blog. "This shows the deputies are getting more serious with their rights of participating in politics, and also shows the 'two sessions' are rising from their 'rubber stamp' image into a democratic platform."

The two sessions -- the Second Session of the 11th NPC and the Second Session of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top advisory body, concluded last Thursday and Friday respectively.