BEIJING, March 9 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Zhang Dejiang said Wednesday that the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee sticks to the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in its work.

"We have incorporated the leadership of the Party into every process and aspect of the NPC's work, and upheld the centralized, unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee," said Zhang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, when delivering a work report to the annual legislative session.

Zhang added that "we have ensured that our thinking, actions and politics all maintain a high degree of unity with the CPC Central Committee headed by General Secretary Xi Jinping."

The NPC maintained the right political direction and worked to ensure that the Party's line, principles, policies, decisions and plans are fully and effectively implemented in the work of the state, and that the Party can exercise leadership over the state and society through the organs of political power, he said.

"Leadership by the Party is the essential feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics, as well as its greatest strength," Zhang added.