The Two Sessions, or \u201clianghui\u201d in Chinese, the annual gathering of China\u2019s National People\u2019s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People\u2019s 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\u2019s meeting commenced on 5 March and will last about a week.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s \u201ctwo sessions\u201d hold particular significance as 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People\u2019s Republic of China and stands as a pivotal year for achieving the goals and tasks outlined in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025).<\/p>\n
China\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
While challenges and difficulties remain in further promoting China\u2019s economic recovery, the overall trend of recovery and long-term improvement remains unchanged. The \u201ctwo sessions\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
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 \u2014 and Xi\u2019s 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\u2019s presidential election could further strain the relationship between the world\u2019s two largest economies. The gathering, which takes place in Beijing\u2019s 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\u2019s government to broadcast its strategy for economic, social and foreign policies and announce key indicators including China\u2019s economic growth target, its budget deficit limit and military spending for the coming year.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s also an opportunity for elite leaders to hear from delegates, who hail from across the country and different social sectors. Analysts opine that \u201cThe 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\u2019s real estate downturn, stock market crisis, high unemployment and weakened demand. Observers will also be closely watching how markets respond. Anticipation surrounds how the \u201ctwo sessions\u201d 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 \u201cnew productive forces.\u201d 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s livelihoods and prevent and defuse risks. It is imperative to leverage the government\u2019s role effectively while ensuring the market\u2019s decisive role. This will require the introduction of new regulations to promote the private economy\u2019s 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\u2019s scientific community to \u201cfight the battle well\u201d, as China vies for technological supremacy with the US and the leadership looks to boost the flagging economy. The Chinese president urged them to \u201cfurther strengthen aspirations to rejuvenate the country through science and education and take on the heavy responsibility of scientific and technological innovation.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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\u2019s twin sessions are a demonstration of its people\u2019s resolution to overcome challenges collectively.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Two Sessions, or \u201clianghui\u201d in Chinese, the annual gathering of China\u2019s National People\u2019s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2584,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,105],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[206],"class_list":{"0":"post-2615","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-latest","8":"category-opinion"},"yoast_head":"\n