Beijing to tackle `social unrest'

He said China would promote direct transport and communications links across the Taiwan Strait.

"We firmly believe that with the efforts of all Chinese people, including our Taiwan compatriots, complete reunification of China will definitely be realized," he said, to sustained applause from delegates.

Military spending

Wen also said the government would speed up the transformation of China's 2.3 million armed forces into a high-tech fighting force.

On Sunday, China announced it will boost military spending by 17.8 percent this year, the biggest jump in more than a decade.

National People's Congress spokesman Jiang Enzhu (姜恩柱) said without giving details the 350.92 billion yuan defense budget would mainly be spent on boosting wages and living allowances for members of the armed forces and on upgrading armaments.

China's military has been criticized abroad for not being open about its spending.

US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, who was visiting Beijing on Sunday, urged more dialogue between the Pentagon and the Chinese military "so that we have a bit better understanding of exactly what it is that the government of China has in mind with respect to its military modernization."

Addressing protests by farmers and workers over corruption and land seizures, Wen said the government would act quickly to address such complaints.

"We will actively, yet prudently, proceed with reforms in the political system and accelerate the development of democracy with Chinese characteristics," he said.