BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Top legislator Li Zhanshu on Thursday sat down with lawmakers to listen to their advice on improving the work of the people's congresses and rule of law, at a symposium.

Deputies of the National People's Congress (NPC) should serve as a link between the Party, the country and the people, said Li, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, who presided over the symposium on the sidelines of the ongoing bimonthly session of the NPC Standing Committee.

Fifty-six NPC deputies attending the bimonthly session participated in the symposium and shared their experiences and thoughts on performing their duties.

Li said the symposium was an important mechanism for the Standing Committee to strengthen its connection with deputies and receive supervision from them.

He called on the deputies to report the situation at the grassroots level, and on the needs of the people and their suggestions, to push for improvements in the work of state organs.

The deputies were also urged to improve their ability to perform duties, including conducting various forms of research and collecting real opinions from the public.