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Two Sessions 2023 (Lianghui): All Articles

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. This year’s event will be the first after China dropped its three-year-old Covid-19 restrictions. It will see a major reshuffle of top government jobs including the premier. President Xi Jinping, who just secured a ground-breaking third term as party’s leader, is set to secure a third presidential term at the two sessions too.

Chinese Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang meets COP28 UAE president-designate Sultan al-Jaber in Beijing on April 18. Photo: Xinhua

Environment

Do Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang’s COP28 talks signal new climate role?

Ding appears set to become the country’s top decision maker on the issue after meeting Sultan al-Jaber in Beijing.

20 Apr 2023 - 3:19PMvideocam

Two Sessions 2023 (Lianghui): All Articles

Do Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang’s COP28 talks signal new climate role?

Ding appears set to become the country’s top decision maker on the issue after meeting Sultan al-Jaber in Beijing.

Xi Jinping consolidates power at home, but attentions turn to overseas turbulence

China’s Communist Party to take science and tech reins to break US containment

Beijing’s top office on Hong Kong affairs gets revamp, will report to party chiefs

Xia Baolong, director of the current Hong Kong and Macau Office, will stay on as head of the new body to oversee the transition, sources say.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}As I see it | Mideast plan shows China’s strength but foreign affairs reshuffle intrigues

Observers and diplomats have voiced concerns about some promotions which were major departures from precedents and vaguely established criteria.

Are US sanctions to blame for deadlocked military engagement with China?

Washington shows no sign of lifting long-standing sanctions on China’s new defence minister, observers say.

Li Qiang launches drive for confidence in China’s private economy

Li pledges support for entrepreneurs and says the country will open further to foreign players.

China’s Xi vows ‘peaceful’ Taiwan ties as caution marks tone from Beijing

President Xi Jinping’s pledge to seek ‘peaceful development’ of cross-strait relations seen as part of consistent messaging on Taiwan.

Li Qiang takes 1 foreign affairs question – on US-China decoupling

In the traditional press conference at the end of the parliamentary meetings, the Chinese premier makes few comments on diplomacy.

Xi Jinping begins third term urging a balance of growth and security

At annual ‘two sessions’, Xi says Beijing will actively pursue a peaceful solution to Taiwan issue but will firmly oppose outside attempts to split Taiwan from China.

Ex-Jiangsu party chief Wu Zhenglong named State Council secretary general

Wu is expected to play a role similar to chief of staff for Li Qiang and will work closely with the new premier on State Council operations.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Explainer | Who is Yi Gang, the US-educated governor of China’s central bank?

Since being appointed central bank governor in 2018, US-educated Yi Gang has led financial reforms and a debt reduction campaign, while maintaining a prudent monetary stance.

China’s central bank, finance chiefs retain spots in cabinet shake-up

China’s ‘two sessions’ confirms top roles for Yi Gang and Liu Kun at the central bank and the Ministry of Finance as authorities confront financial headwinds.

Technology, economy at forefront as China’s ‘two sessions’ takes centre stage

In this edition of the Global Impact newsletter, we break down events from the first week of China’s ‘two sessions’ in Beijing.

China to develop dredger ‘more powerful than South China Sea island-builder’

Self-propelled suction machine will feature a 10,000kW reamer, adding to the country’s fleet.

China is playing catch-up in a ChatGPT world, Chinese lawmaker says

The country needs to advance its own cognitive development models, which are far behind the best competitors, iFlytek founder says.

China’s top legislature fills prosecutor, judge and anti-graft positions

Former Hubei party chief Ying Yong, responsible for the country’s initial response to the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan, is named procurator-general.

Make foreign students in China pass a Mandarin test: top adviser

Nationalist commentator Zhou Xiaoping suggests overseas applicants for colleges should have to show some Chinese-language proficiency.

Li Qiang is China’s new premier, but how much power will he wield?

Li Qiang was confirmed as China’s premier – its No 2 official – on Saturday during the ‘two sessions’, but the position is seen to hold diminishing authority as President Xi Jinping consolidates power.

Macroscope | China’s economy needs more than ‘revenge spending’ to stay on growth path

Investors are keeping a close eye on the new team in charge of China’s economy and looking for signs of government policies to come in the next five years. Domestic consumption, while improving, won’t be enough as exports, real estate and private-sector support also need addressing.

Is Beijing being too lax with policy as China loses its ‘demographic dividend’?

A widening population imbalance continues to plague China, but this year’s government work report did not offer much detail about how the dilemma will be addressed, raising concerns.

China’s debt-saddled local governments underscore its moderate GDP target

Talk of financial risk management at annual parliamentary meetings serves as a high-profile reassurance of leadership’s repeated vows to curb financial risks and alleviate revenue problems across the country.

China’s Covid-weary entrepreneurs hesitate on Xi’s ‘common prosperity’ call

President Xi Jinping has again urged entrepreneurs to give to charity and ‘share the fruits of growth’, but his message could find a muted reaction among private firms still recovering from three years of Covid uncertainty.

China’s National Data Bureau to help streamline regulation of digital economy

Having one regulator oversee key aspects of data governance in China is expected to benefit both local and international businesses.

‘Stopgap measure’ or can trade talks prevent China-US ties from derailing?

The Ministry of Commerce in Beijing said on Wednesday that it was ‘open’ to a visit by US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo after she said last week that she was considering visiting China.

China’s ‘two sessions’ 2023: Asia-Pacific uncertainties drive arms build-up

China is the latest country in the region to announce a boost in its defence budget, with analysts expecting the trend to gather pace.

Xi Jinping hails private firms, but will ‘actions speak louder than words’?

For China, the task of boosting the private economy will be divided into more detailed plans and be allocated to specific government agencies for implementation after the ongoing ‘two sessions’ parliamentary meetings.

Why did Beijing’s top man in Hong Kong praise city?

Zheng Yanxiong, director of central government’s liaison office, tells Hong Kong politicians city’s affairs are ‘of national importance’.

As I see it | Mideast plan shows China’s strength but foreign affairs reshuffle intrigues

Explainer | Who is Yi Gang, the US-educated governor of China’s central bank?