China’s top legislature and political advisory started their annual sessions this week. On Thursday, the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, while sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature, will begin today. The back to back meetings, also known as the “two sessions”, aim to set the general national agenda for the current year and beyond.
In yesterday’s conference, Wang Yang, chairman of the CPPCC, delivered a work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee and told the gathering of more than 2,000 political advisors that 2021 marks “the starting point on a new journey to fully building a modern socialist China.” Moreover, 2021 is also significant because it marks the beginning of China’s 14th Five Year Plan (2021-2025) and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China.
For the CPPCC’s goals for 2021, Wang emphasized focusing on four areas: “focus on the centenary of the CPC to strengthen the theoretical and political guidance; concentrate on serving the implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) to improve the effectiveness of consultation; further pool the wisdom and strength; and raise work performance.”
During the sessions of the NPC, the committee will hear the annual work report of the government presented by Premier Li Keqiang, and also reports from the top legislature, court and procuratorate. In total, 5,974 proposals have been submitted since the previous annual session of the body. In addition, lawmakers will also review plans outlining China’s long-term objectives and development goals for the next five to fifteen years (i.e. the draft outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the objectives through the year 2035).
The plans presented this year are expected to focus on “high-quality economic development, sci-tech innovation, rural vitalization, eco-protection, and the “dual circulation” development paradigm,” which stresses that domestic and overseas markets reinforce each other, with the domestic market being “the mainstay”.
Last year, the sessions were delayed to May because of the coronavirus pandemic but this year they are back to being conducted on their original March schedule. This is considered to be China’s main political season and attracts significant domestic and international media coverage as China unveils its economic plans. According to the state-owned news outlet Global Times, some Chinese analysts have predicted that China will “overtake” the US’ position as the world’s largest economy by 2035, by which point the Chinese economy is expected to be at least 1.5 times bigger than that of the US.
China Discusses Implementation of Five-Year Plan at Annual Session of Top Political Body
The 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference was held on Thursday, while sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature begin today.
March 5, 2021
SOURCE: WANG YE, XINHUA