Vicky Xu / Shanghai Daily news

The second plenum of the 12th Shanghai People's Congress opened today at the central hall of the Shanghai Exhibition Center.

The meeting began at 9 o'clock in the morning. President of the SPC, Gong Xuepin, presided and announced the commencement. 815 SPC deputies present sang the national anthem together thereafter.

Mayor Han Zheng delivered a "government work report." Jiang Yingshi, head of the committee of development and reform, made a 2003 review and a 2004 draft report on the national economy and social development plan. Liu Hongwei, head of the financial bureau, reviewed the city's budget plan through 2003 to 2004.