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Top public concerns solicited as China's 'two meetings' proceed
Last Updated: 2014-03-06 14:12 | CE.cn
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By Li Hongmei

Anti-corruption, livelihood issues and expensive housing prices have garnered the highest attention among Chinese internet users for the sixth consecutive year on the occasion that the annual meetings of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) are going on, reports the China Economic Weekly.

The annual sessions, known as the "lianghui' or "two meetings," are set to span several issues, such as inflation, housing price control, food safety, anti-corruption and the ongoing smog problem. The NPC, China's top legislature, will run from Mar. 5-13, while the meeting of the CPPCC, the country's top political advisory body, which opened on Mar. 3, will meet until Mar. 12.

Anti-corruption remained the most popular topic among Chinese internet users prior to the meetings, after many high-ranking officials were placed under investigation at the end of 2013.

Netizens were more interested in future anti-graft measures than economic, social and livelihood issues between 2009 and 2014, the paper said, which reflects the public's hopes for the new government under President Xi Jinping.

The second-most popular issue was daily concerns, with education, medical treatment and employment being the most difficult and oft-debated issues among the public.

Zhang Shixian, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that the majority of the country's budget, talent and equipment are concentrated on the selective elementary schools, high schools and universities, which has resulted in an opportunity gap.

Many people will not find it difficult to enroll their children in a school but it will be difficult to find a good school, Zhang said, adding that many families feel at an unfair disadvantage before their child has even entered the education system.

Medical resources are insufficient in rural areas and are mostly concentrated in provincial cities, netizens said, while the employment issue continues to receive a lot of attention because many college graduates are unable to find work.

Beijing has implemented several measures over the year to address these concerns, including passing measure to control housing prices but they have been ineffective due to man-made factors, Zhang said.

He said that real estate developers, commercial banks, local governments and house owners did not want to see a decline in housing prices as developers, commercial banks, indebted local governments and even the country's macroeconomics may be adversely affected.

Meanwhile, the twin sessions of the NPC and CPPCC are expected to attach importance to the country's smog problem, which continues to plague cities in northern China.

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