Chinese expect much from central govt

In China, a lot has happened over the past decade.

The country has won battles against SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and the devastating 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in southwestern Sichuan province.

It has survived the gravest international financial crisis and maintained rapid socioeconomic development. China's economy has risen to become the world's second largest, with people's livelihoods notably enhanced.

Problems remain, though.

Extensive growth and structural imbalance in the economy have not been fundamentally changed. Ineffective distribution and widening gaps of wealth have resulted in a series of social problems.

And the international situation is getting even more complicated.

There are only about eight years left for the formation of a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020, with the new Chinese government confronted with arduous tasks.

More than three months ago, the new CPC leadership came to power and they have since introduced a string of new policies and measures.

They have put forward the "Chinese dream" for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and promoted the implementation of the Constitution.

They have unveiled eight bureaucracy- and formalism-fighting guidelines to curb extravagance and improve officials' working style.

They have vowed no stop in carrying out the reform and opening up, knocked upon the doors of impoverished families, forcefully fought bureaucracy and corruption, while resolutely safeguarding national sovereignty.

In the first 100 ruling days, the new CPC leadership impressed many Chinese as close to the people and forceful, pragmatic and efficient, self-disciplined and sober.

Reform, as they have reiterated, is expected to be the focus of the work of the new central government.

"Reforms in many respects are pressing. If pursued, they may cause some contradictions, but if not, more contradictions will be inevitable," Chi Fulin said.

To reform is to compete with crisis. The biggest highlight of the forthcoming first annual session of the 12th NPC and the first annual session of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, or the top political advisory body, will be new institutional breakthroughs, Chi added.