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Two Sessions refers to China's annual parliamentary meetings, where the two main political bodies of China - the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) - reveal plans for China's policies involving the economy, military, trade, diplomacy, the environment and more.
- A modest increase in spending reverse 2 years of declines for the country’s diplomatic corps
- But references to economic agreements with the US and EU have evaporated in this year’s government work report
Premier Li Keqiang pledges to improve military training and combat readiness for the People’s Liberation Army.
Economist warns that ‘China’s population crisis is approaching’, with ‘increasingly severe’ economic and social problems, as Beijing’s policymakers have already begun to change their tune.
The Hong Kong-based One Country Two Systems Research Institute is hosting an event on Tuesday, which is being live streamed on scmp.com, examining China’s 14th five-year plan that was approved at the National People’s Congress earlier this month.
Researchers in Beijing say they took a different approach that saw 60 graphics processors complete the job ‘in about five days’.
The latest issue of the Global Impact newsletter looks back at the “two sessions” meetings and how President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party leadership unveiled more details of their blueprint to push Chinese development to the next stage.
China is in need of new sources of growth after the old growth model propelled by investment began running out of steam, and laid out its plans in the draft of its 14th five-year plan for 2021-25 last week.
‘The changes approved by the National People’s Congress today on March 11 are a direct attack on Hong Kong’s autonomy, its freedoms, its democratic processes,’ says US State Department spokesman Ned Price.
But Taipei says Beijing should ‘take note of the mindset of the Taiwanese people and refrain from using political terms to hold back amicable interaction’.
Beijing has set ambitious green targets in its 14th five-year plan but they are in contrast to continued investment in fossil fuels, say environmentalists.
Premier Li Keqiang says China’s GDP growth rate of above 6 per cent gives Beijing leeway to respond to the ‘considerable uncertainty’ surrounding its economic rebound from the coronavirus pandemic.
Five-year plan includes call to mitigate risks and prepare for legal battles to defend national interests.
Women now make up around 25 per cent of the legislature, but men from the dominant Han group still hold most of the top leadership positions.
Five-year plan calls for talent to be brought in to help drive areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, life sciences, space and aviation.
CPPCC concludes its week-long meeting, while NPC will wrap up tomorrow evening with a press conference by Premier Li Keqiang.
Top officials in China say the debt burden of some local governments is worryingly high, ordering them to refrain from recklessly expanding infrastructure projects.
The government’s new work report promises equal treatment for private and state-owned enterprises (SOE), but China’s push for SOE innovation could undermine the goal.
Under the 14th five-year plan, Chinese courts will upgrade to the fourth generation of smart court by 2025.
Policies are needed to improve livelihoods and support low-income earners, or analysts say China’s new plan to rely on domestic consumption risks being dragged down by weak consumer spending.
Ahead of Communist Party centenary in July, cadres have hailed ‘extraordinary accomplishments’ at meetings in Beijing.
It was another busy day in Beijing for China’s lawmakers and policy influencers as the annual sessions enter their final stretch.
Chinese president also stresses need for ‘high-level strategic deterrence’ and more tech innovation, after defence minister’s call for PLA to be battle ready amid ‘high-risk phase’.
Newly signed memorandum of understanding between Chinese steel mill and Australian miner will see US$15 million spent over three years on research to reduce harmful carbon emissions.
New five-year plan calls for more oil and gas production to better safeguard power supplies.
Commerce Minister Wang Wentao confirmed the 15-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) had been ratified during the National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing.
For the first time Beijing has devoted a separate section of its all-encompassing policy document to welfare of ex-military.
Beijing wants industry development accelerated in the next five years, including building more facilities to deal with radioactive waste.
