NPC Chairman Li Peng called for more efforts to increase deputies' supervisory powers, especially those over corrupt government and judiciary practices.
Such an expanded role, however, should 'follow the party's leadership' and laws must 'manifest the will of the party', Mr Li added.
According to Beijing sources, President Jiang Zemin fears any attempt to separate the legislature and the party.
'Supervision should be strengthened on key issues concerning reform, development, stability, problems of common concern and problems which attract the loudest complaints from the general public,' said Mr Li.
Massive unemployment, judicial and government corruption, as well as state enterprise reforms, should be taken up by deputies more seriously, he said.
The solution to judicial corruption was to further legal reform and improve the supervisory system to ensure justice.
