‘Two sessions’ 2021 bite-sized recap: nuclear waste, veterans, entertainment and Hong Kong backlash top Tuesday’s agenda

It was another busy day in Beijing for China’s lawmakers and policy influencers as the annual sessions entered their final stretch
NPC deputies are set to vote on one of the most contentious issues – Beijing’s reform of Hong Kong’s electoral system – on Thursday

Two Sessions 2021 (Lianghui)

SCMP Reporters

Published: 9:00pm, 9 Mar 2021

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These are the issues that topped Tuesday’s agenda at the abridged annual sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing:

Backlash: US lawmakers condemn China’s plan to “stamp out democratic opposition” within Hong Kong’s electoral system, saying the move is designed only to underscore “its own security”. NPC deputies are expected to vote on Thursday – the final day of the legislative meeting – on a resolution to proceed with the overhaul.

Veterans’ welfare: Beijing underscores legislative efforts to improve veterans’ benefits, including more job opportunities and preferential household registration for their children. Subject attracts special attention in wake of deaths of four Chinese soldiers in a border clash with Indian troops in June.

Nuclear waste: More facilities to deal with waste in the pipeline as Beijing’s new five-year plan puts nuclear power on the front burner in bid to meet climate goals.

Less fun, more science: CPPCC member Mo Changying says mainstream media should reduce their coverage of entertainment stories to focus more on science and researchers, but also learn from producers of entertainment shows on how to attract viewers.

Beijing has put nuclear power on the front burner in its bid to meet its climate goals. Photo: Shutterstock

Stat of the day: Beijing sets goal to increase the life expectancy of the average Chinese by one year by the end of the new five-year plan period in 2025. While the plan does not include an absolute figure – the most recently published was in 2019, when it stood at 77.3 years – Zhang Chunxian, a 67-year-old former Politburo member, cites foreign media report saying China may in 2020 have caught up with or even overtaken the average life expectancy in the US of 78.93 years.