Premier Wen Jiabao yesterday urged government officials to listen more, talk less and be pragmatic when attending meetings of the legislature and political advisory body.

Wen made the remarks when joining a panel discussion by members of the 10th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's political advisory body.

The Fifth Session of the 10th CPPCC National Committee started in Beijing on Saturday, and the annual full session of the 10th National People's Congress is scheduled to begin today.

"Government officials should listen more, talk less and be pragmatic when attending NPC and CPPCC meetings, which concerns not only a sense of democracy, but also the government's willingness to be supervised," Wen said.

"To listen more means you listen to criticism, proposals and suggestions from all sides, especially those from the grass roots, " he said.

"To talk less means you do not give instructions and do not indulge in empty talk. To talk less does not mean you do not talk at all, but that you need to seriously answer the inquiries and handle the views of NPC deputies and CPPCC members, and inform them of government work in a practical and realistic manner," the premier said.