China's NPC session to avoid extravagance

BEIJING - The upcoming annual session will be frugal, as well as feature shorter speeches and fewer traffic controls, according to a statement from the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee on Wednesday.

Li Jianguo, vice-chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, has urged efforts to improve work style and curb banquets during the first session of the 12th NPC, the statement said.

Li made the remarks following Chinese leader Xi Jinping's written comment calling for promotion of the fine tradition of "being diligent and thrifty" and the idea of "honor to frugality and shame to extravagance."

The NPC Standing Committee statement said expenditures will be tightened for the first session of 12th NPC. The intensity and duration of traffic controls during the session should be properly limited and road closures should be kept to a minimum.

There will be no flowers in NPC deputies' hotel rooms and no welcoming ceremonies at the airport or railway stations, according to the statement.

All deputies will eat at buffets without expensive food or alcohol, while extravagant galas, gifts and performances will not be arranged.

NPC deputies will be encouraged to focus on key issues and avoid empty talk, while the media will be encouraged to report more on deputies from grassroots areas.

The number of session staffers will also be strictly controlled, the statement added.

The measures are part of a sweeping campaign to reduce extravagance and improving the working style of Communist Party of China (CPC) and government officials.

The first annual session of the 12th NPC will convene on March 5, 2013, during which top state leaders, including the country's president, will be elected.