Economy: Combating downturn major concern

BEIJING: Combating the international financial crisis was a major concern of China's political advisors last year, said a spokesman of the country's top advisory body Tuesday.

Members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) spent the most time in helping enterprises tide over the financial crisis last year, said Zhao Qizheng, spokesman of the annual session of the political advisory body, at a press conference.

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More than 2,000 national political advisors put forward 8,520 proposals last year, 1,800 of which were on how to address the downturn, expanding domestic demand and restructuring the economy, according to Zhao.

"Political advisors have advantages to talk about economic issues, as many of them are former government officials, current or retired state-owned enterprise (SOE) leaders, economists or those who have worked in the economic sector."

"Their proposals are feasible," he said, adding some suggestions were incorporated into the State Council document on further promoting the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Zhao expected the transformation of economic growth pattern would be a focus of this year's discussion among the political advisors, who will start their annual full session Wednesday.