SHENZHEN’S political advisers will have more time to discuss social and political issues concerning the daily lives of residents at the local advisory body’s annual meeting, which opens today.

The session of the Shenzhen committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) will focus on issues of public concerns, such as education, healthcare, food safety, protection of water resources, establishing a pollution alert system and improving the lives of the underprivileged groups.

To devote more time to discussions on issues concerning people’s livelihood, the meeting will cut short two reports given by local CPPCC leaders. One is a report by the local CPPCC standing committee to sum up work in the past year and another focuses on the proposals the advisory body has so far received since last year’s session.

More than 40 local advisers from 20 fields will take part in panel discussions with senior government officials to voice their suggestions about the city’s economic development and citizens’ welfare.

More time will be devoted to debates and individual comments made by the advisers, who can raise their hands to ask for a chance to speak.

By Saturday, a total of 32 advisers have submitted applications to give speeches.

The city’s legislature will open its annual meeting Wednesday.(Li Dan)