Xi Jinping, in the middle, joined a panel discussion of Shanghai lawmakers on the government work report delivered by Premier Li Keqiang, on the afternoon of March 5, in Beijing. Xi, Shanghai Party secretary from March to October 2007 before taking a post in Beijing, retains membership in the Shanghai delegation to the National People's Congress. [Photo/Xinhua]

Xi: "No more renxing in economic development"

While addressing sustainable development at a seminar of Shanghai legislators on Thursday, President Xi Jinping used the same online catchphrase that Premier Li used in a government report.

"We shall not renxing any more in economic development", Xi was quoted as saying. The word renxing means "doing whatever they want". Xi was expressing the hope that China's economy will promote innovation-driven development.

At the seminar, he praised Shanghai's trial plans to regulate senior officials' spouses and children's business activities, and said he hopes Shanghai could test out these rules before rolling them out in the rest of China.

He also urged efforts in tackling air pollution, when some delegates joked that China currently relies on the wind to disperse polluted air, he said, "Everything depends upon Man's efforts."