On Thursday, China's top legislature, the National People's Congress, will open its annual session in Beijing. Deputies from all parts of society will air their views and offer advice to better improve state management and people's livelihood. But now let's follow our reporter Yang Yong to have a look at what ordinary people care about most.

Reporter:

Yang Sen works for an electrical equipment company in Beijing. Her company is influenced by the global economic turmoil, and she has been dealing with heavier pressure at work.

"My company had a poor performance last quarter, so our salary is lower and the food allowance has been cut."

In spite of this, Yang Sen says she is grateful that her company hasn't laid anyone off yet. She and her colleagues are working more diligently now, hoping that the Chinese people are able to overcome the current hardships.

"Our government should encourage confidence. If everybody spends money without fear, instead of keeping it in their pockets or in the bank, surely it will help keep currency circulating."

20-year-old Jiang Li'na is a junior business major at a university in Beijing. One year before graduation, she cares most about employment issues.

"I hope that our country can come up with more preferential policies to help college graduates find jobs or start their own businesses, and that companies can offer more job opportunities."

Bai Jingrui, a retired professor in Beijing, is concerned about food safety issues, and says the newly passed Food Safety Law is good news.

"I hope there will be another breakthrough on food and medicine security issues during the session to intensify supervision under the law. When a healthy food market is guaranteed, we will be eager to buy the products. This will also help boost our economy."

A woman working in the insurance industry hopes medical insurance can be promoted across the country. One mother says she is always concerned about education, since the current educational system still puts too much pressure on both children and parents. And one retiree expressed his worries about the quality of life among empty nesters.

Many say they understand the pressure on the government wrought by the global crisis, and they harbor hopes that the government will do something to make a difference.

Yang Yong, CRI News