Editor's Note:

Have you caught the wave sweeping China's cyberspace as all eyes in the country turn toward the National People's Congress? Chinese Web users are taking the opportunity to comment on proposals for issues they care about most, making for a flurry of political topics on the blogosphere.

The 12th National People's Congress kicked off Tuesday and will conclude on March 17, when a new administration will be elected. As deputies submit proposals for new policies, the Web is abuzz with today's hottest issues.

Anti-graft policies are among the most discussed topics in the country. The public is asking for stricter supervision of and punishment for corrupt officials and increased transparency, aiming for reform as the ultimate solution. "We welcome measures like shortening meeting times and having concrete discussions rather than empty talks, but people need something more tangible," said a Web user who goes by the handle kassy.

The environment is rapidly becoming one of the most important issues for the majority of netizens, with a particular focus on pollution to the air, water and soil. "The river I used to swim in when I was a child is now dead. Can anyone still drink or eat something without worrying?" said netizen Vincent0903. This sentiment was echoed by other Internet users, who called for stricter legislation to punish illegal pollution emissions and real measures to abate pollution, as "officials have to live here too."

Housing prices recently drew citizens' attention once again thanks to a newly unveiled policy imposing a 20 percent tax on private property sales. China's real estate-driven economy has been criticized by economists, while ordinary citizens hope that owning an apartment will no longer be a major goal that many people strive for. "Unreasonable housing prices are a burden for millions of young people and a huge barrier to pursuing our dreams," said netizen Marilynrabbit.

Family planning policies have grown increasingly unpopular in recent years, with both demographers and the public vehemently opposed to the practice. Experts are chiefly concerned about China's rapidly aging society and unbalanced gender ratios, while young parents desperately want to give their child a sibling. "If it is 'too soon' to cancel the family planning policy altogether, then please make it legal to have a second baby," a Web user who uses the name BettyDuke implored. Others said that more benefits should be offered to the millions of seniors who have lost an only child.

Education reform is advocated by not only experts, teachers and parents, but also by current students themselves. Many say that unequal resource distribution puts huge burdens on families as they struggle to secure a spot in a top school, and that the system still judges students solely on their test scores. "Students' rest time and extracurricular activities should be sacred and they must be able to pursue their real interests," a netizen using the handle JC wrote. College students are also calling for a sharp reduction in their political coursework.

Food safety is on everyone's mind thanks to recent policies limiting the amount of baby formula that can be taken from Hong Kong, leading netizens to point out that the government has done little more than equate the practice with smuggling. "The basic need for food is reason enough to call for better safety again," a Web user who goes by beima wrote online.    

Animal rights is a fairly new topic being proposed, with many calling for more focus on the welfare of cats and dogs. "Anyone who kills or mistreats these animals, especially service animals, have to be punished beyond mere moral accusations," said Web user yourfun.