BEIJING - Senior Chinese leaders on Monday joined deputies to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), the national legislature, in their panel discussions at the 13th NPC's first session, highlighting the core status of Xi Jinping.

The leaders included Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning and Zhao Leji, all members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.

Joining deputies from Jiangxi province, Li Zhanshu stressed the important role the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core has played in leading development over the past five years. He said it will be essential to fully implement Xi's thought, especially his thought on economy, which is mainly based on a new vision for development, and the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress to ensure this year's economic and social development.

Joining deputies from Sichuan province, Wang Yang highlighted the firm leadership that the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core exercised in achieving historic changes in the causes of the Party and country, urging efforts to safeguard its authority and centralized, unified leadership and fully implement its decisions and policies.

Joining deputies from Hebei province, Wang Huning acknowledged the remarkable achievements made by the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core and urged his fellow deputies to well understand the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and Xi's thought and lead the public to safeguard Xi's core status and keep in line with the central leadership.

Speaking to deputies from Heilongjiang province, Zhao Leji underscored the historic achievements China has made under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core and called for developing a modernized economy and pursuing high-quality growth to implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialist Economy with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.