Focus on Arts and Ecology

March 5, 2021

China's largest political event has begun which will have an immense impact on China's domestic and international policies. To understand the significance and scale of this event here's some background info.

What is Two Sessions?

Two Sessions is the most important event on the Chinese political calendar. The event combines the top two political meetings, which enable the country's leadership to review achievements and performance of the previous year and set out a vision for the next 12 months. The two meetings are held by the following bodies:

• National People's Congress (NPC): China's primary legislature with the authority to pass new laws and approve budgets. With almost 3,000 members, it's the world's largest lawmaking body.
• Chinese People's Political Consultive Conference: A diverse advisory body made-up of businesspeople, artists and sports stars. It's more than 2,000 members play a key role in recommending policies and debating issues.

For a deeper dive on how Two Sessions actually works, click here. 

What has happened so far?

NPC 

The NPC opened its annual session on Friday, after adopting the meeting agenda the previous day. At the opening session, Premier Li Keqiang delivered a government work report on behalf of the State Council to the national legislature for deliberation. Here are some of the points highlighted in the report. 

• China was the world's only major economy to achieve growth in 2020 and has won a complete victory in the fight against extreme poverty. With GDP growth of 2.3 percent in 2020, a better-than-expected recovery was achieved in the country.
• In the past five years, over 60 million urban jobs were added and the world's largest social security system was established.
• In addition, China has set a gross domestic product (GDP) growth target of over six percent for 2021 and outlined a plan to promote innovation, green development, and common prosperity in the next five years. 
• Lawmakers began deliberating a draft decision on improving the electoral system of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). In an exclusive interview with CGTN, former Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying shared his views on the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong".
• For an even deeper dive, check out this graphic illustration of the work report including achievements for 2020 and last 5 years. For key take-aways from Premier Li's report, check out this breakdown from current affairs commentator Einar Tangen.

CPPCC

The CPPCC opened its annual session in Beijing on Thursday.  

• Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders attended the opening meeting held at the Great Hall of the People. At the meeting, the agenda for the session was reviewed and approved.
• Wang Yang, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, delivered a Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee work report to the session. In the report Wang highlighted the need to promote unity and how the CPPCC contributed to China's COVID-19 response in 2020.

What is on the agenda this year?

Technology and climate change should take center stage, with China set to host the UN Biodiversity Conference in May. The latest five-year plan, announced in 2020, named technological self-sufficiency as a lever for future economic development, while a roadmap to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions will likely be discussed, along with poverty alleviation and industrial and national security. China's longer-term "2035 vision" will also be announced.

For full coverage of this year's Two Sessions, check out this dedicated webpage for the event with all the latest developments. 

(Sources: The China Report)