The Two Sessions, or “lianghui” in Chinese, the annual gathering of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), an advisory body are meeting in Beijing. This year, the twin sessions are being held amidst numerous challenges facing China and the world. According to the Chinese constitution, the lawmaking NPC is the highest organ of state power. The NPC session involves nearly 3,000 delegates, mostly officials and Communist Party members, who ratify legislation, finalize personnel reshuffles and approve the government budget for the year. This year’s meeting commenced on 5 March and will last about a week.
The 2,000-odd representatives to the CPPCC meet at the same time in the same place to offer policy suggestions. Bringing in business leaders, celebrities and other influential people from outside the party elite as representatives is meant to show engagement with the broader society. Previous delegates have included NBA star Yao Ming and actress Gong Li. This year’s “two sessions” hold particular significance as 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and stands as a pivotal year for achieving the goals and tasks outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025).
China’s economy rebounded in 2023, demonstrating solid progress in high-quality development. Gross domestic product grew by 5.2 percent, surpassing the initial target of around 5 percent. The country continues to be a vital engine of global development, contributing around 30 percent to world economic growth. Looking ahead, the Chinese leadership has emphasized the importance of seeking progress while maintaining stability and faithfully implementing the new development philosophy across all areas. Consolidating and strengthening the momentum of economic recovery is of utmost importance.
While challenges and difficulties remain in further promoting China’s economic recovery, the overall trend of recovery and long-term improvement remains unchanged. The “two sessions” are expected to foster consensus and enhance confidence in this regard. The challenges to China emerged because its economy had been affected by a property sector crisis, local government debt, deflation, a stock market disturbance and friction with the US. International interest in the proceedings of the twin sessions emanate from the fact the gathering comes one year after President Xi Jinping gained an unprecedented third term as president.
The challenges may not pose a threat to Xi, but how his team addresses those concerns will have implications not only for the future of China and its 1.4 billion people, but the global economy at large — and Xi’s top officials are stepping into the meeting determined to meet the challenges boldly. Policymakers, investors and business owners in capitals across the world will also be watching closely, especially in a year when America’s presidential election could further strain the relationship between the world’s two largest economies. The gathering, which takes place in Beijing’s cavernous Great Hall of the People, is the only time each year that the NPC, meets in person. The two sessions provide an important platform for China’s government to broadcast its strategy for economic, social and foreign policies and announce key indicators including China’s economic growth target, its budget deficit limit and military spending for the coming year.
It’s also an opportunity for elite leaders to hear from delegates, who hail from across the country and different social sectors. Analysts opine that “The regime often utilizes the annual conference to secure support from Chinese society and bolster confidence in the market which is particularly crucial given challenges like China’s real estate downturn, stock market crisis, high unemployment and weakened demand. Observers will also be closely watching how markets respond. Anticipation surrounds how the “two sessions” will focus on promoting high-quality development, seen as a crucial requirement for Chinese modernization. NPC deputies and CPPCC National Committee members are eager to contribute suggestions and proposals on “new productive forces.” The concept refers to advanced productive forces driven by innovation. The key emphasis lies in promoting high-level self-reliance and strengthening capabilities in science and technology.
China has set a GDP growth rate of 5 percent for 2024, creating over 12 million jobs, raising defence spending by 7.2 percent and limiting an inflation target of 3 percent. The legislators and political advisors, in a meeting of the Central Commission for Comprehensively Deepening Reform in February, stressed the need to continue prioritizing reform measures that expand domestic demand, optimize economic structures, boost confidence, ensure people’s livelihoods and prevent and defuse risks. It is imperative to leverage the government’s role effectively while ensuring the market’s decisive role. This will require the introduction of new regulations to promote the private economy’s development, thereby enhancing market confidence and vitality. Addressing a panel discussion with representatives from the science and technology sector, President Xi Jinping called on the country’s scientific community to “fight the battle well”, as China vies for technological supremacy with the US and the leadership looks to boost the flagging economy. The Chinese president urged them to “further strengthen aspirations to rejuvenate the country through science and education and take on the heavy responsibility of scientific and technological innovation.”
The West, which fails to appreciate the grass roots democracy prevalent in China, to suit its own specific environment, often criticize the Chinese form of government. They remain oblivious to the fact that the Communist Party of China has a very stringent method of recruitment but is open to Chinese from all strata of society. Secondly, it is highly democratic; e.g. in 2013, almost a third of delegates voted against a new line-up for the Environmental Protection and Resources Conservation Committee out of protest over the government’s poor handling of air pollution. Delegates also use a system of proposals to publicly raise pet issues, with policy solutions ranging from practical ideas, such as reforms to parental leave or raising minimum wages for gig workers, to nationalist grandstanding over issues like cutting English lessons from the school curriculum. Thus, China’s twin sessions are a demonstration of its people’s resolution to overcome challenges collectively.
S. M. Hali
The writer is a Retired Group Captain of PAF, who has written several books on China. He can be reached at email: [email protected]