China

Photo Source:
   NIAS Course on Global Politics
National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS)
Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bangalore
For any further information or to subscribe to GP alerts send an email to subachandran@nias.res.in

CWA # 293, 24 May 2020
China
Two Sessions in Beijing

  Boa Wang

The two sessions will witness around 3,000 legislators gather in Beijing to discuss significant laws and regulations as well as to discuss and approve several key documents, including the Government Work Report and the national budget, along with more than 2,000 political advisers from the CPPCC

What happened?
This week, China held its two sessions meeting in Beijing.

According to the 2020 Government Work Report, China will not set a numerical target for GDP this year due to "great uncertainty" surrounding COVID-19 and trade. China will give priority to stabilizing employment and ensuring living standards, with the battle against poverty, and achieve the goal of building a moderately prosperous society. 

In addition to the goals mentioned above, the report also highlights two things, according to Chinadaily, one of the authoritative national news websites. First one related to COVID-19 prevention and control. According to the newspaper, China stands ready to work with other countries to strengthen international cooperation on epidemic control. It plans to issue 1 trillion yuan (about $141 billion) of government bonds for COVID-19 control. It will implement a package of policies to support the epidemic-hit Hubei Province. In addition to, China will spare no effort in its regular prevention and control of COVID-19, nor will it lose any time in advancing its economic and social development agenda.

Second, on Taiwan, HK and Macao. According to the daily, China will resolutely oppose and deter any separatist activities seeking "Taiwan independence". China will improve institutional arrangements, policies and measures to encourage cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, deepen cross-Straits integrated development and protect the wellbeing of Taiwan compatriots. The Chinese central government will support the country's Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions in developing the economies and improving living standards.

What is the background?
The two sessions is China's biggest annual political event comprising the annual meetings of the National People's Congress (NPC), the nation's top legislature, and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the nation's top political advisory body. 

This year's two sessions started on May 21st and 22nd at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, after being postponed from the usual date due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The two sessions will witness around 3,000 legislators gather in Beijing to discuss significant laws and regulations as well as to discuss and approve several key documents, including the Government Work Report and the national budget, along with more than 2,000 political advisers from the CPPCC.

What does it mean?
This year's landmark political event is unusual because it takes place while the pandemic is raging globally. China's economy shrank 6.8 per cent year-on-year in the first quarter as the virus outbreak dealt a huge blow to economic activity. While the epidemic has been basically brought under control domestically, economic activities remain on the road to recovery.

The political event is also essential as the country aims to secure the goals of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and shaking off absolute poverty by the end of this year.

In addition to setting the work priorities, targets and tasks for this year's national economic and social development, the two sessions would also highlight on how China improves its public health security and responds to the complex and changing international situation.

About the author

Boa Wang is a postgraduate candidate (American Studies major) at China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU), Beijing.

Print Bookmark

PREVIOUS COMMENTS

NIAS Global Politics Database
March 2024 | CWA # 1251

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
NIAS Global Politics Database
February 2024 | CWA # 1226

NIAS Africa Team

Africa This Week
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1189

Hoimi Mukherjee | Hoimi Mukherjee is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science in Bankura Zilla Saradamani Mahila Mahavidyapith.

Chile in 2023: Crises of Constitutionality
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1187

Aprajita Kashyap | Aprajita Kashyap is a faculty of Latin American Studies, School of International Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University New Delhi.

Haiti in 2023: The Humanitarian Crisis
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1185

Binod Khanal | Binod Khanal is a Doctoral candidate at the Centre for European Studies, School of International Studies, JNU, New Delhi.

The Baltic: Energy, Russia, NATO and China
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1183

Padmashree Anandhan | Padmashree Anandhan is a Research Associate at the School of Conflict and Security Studies, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangaluru.

Germany in 2023: Defence, Economy and Energy Triangle
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1178

​​​​​​​Ashok Alex Luke | Ashok Alex Luke is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science at CMS College, Kottayam.

China and South Asia in 2023: Advantage Beijing?
The World This Year
December 2023 | CWA # 1177

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri | Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri is a postgraduate student at the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at the University of Madras, Chennai.

China and East Asia
The War in Ukraine
October 2023 | CWA # 1091

Annem Naga Bindhu Madhuri

Issues for Europe
IPRI Quarterly Forecasts I Triggers, Trends, and Trajectories
July 2023 | CWA # 1012

Bibhu Prasad Routray

Myanmar continues to burn
2022: The World This Year
December 2022 | CWA # 879

Padmashree Anandhan

The Ukraine War
Europe: Heatwaves, Wildfires, Droughts, and Ice Melt in Alps
November 2022 | CWA # 838

Rishma Banerjee

Tracing Europe's droughts
NIAS Africa Weekly
March 2022 | CWA # 705

NIAS Africa Team

In Focus: Libya
The World This Week: 150th Issue
December 2021 | CWA # 630

GP Team

Europe in 2021
Pakistan Reader
October 2021 | CWA # 588

Abigail Miriam Fernandez

TLP is back again
NIAS Fortnightly on Science, Technology & International Relations
August 2021 | CWA # 528

STIR Team

Space Tourism
Science, Technology and International Relations
September 2019 | CWA # 162

Lakshman Chakravarthy N

5G: A Primer
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 71

Mahesh Bhatta | Centre for South Asian Studies, Kathmandu

Nepal
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 70

Nasima Khatoon | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

The Maldives
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 69

Harini Madhusudan | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

India
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 68

Sourina Bej | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

Bangladesh
South Asia Monthly Brief (Nov 2018)
December 2018 | CWA # 67

Seetha Lakshmi Dinesh Iyer | Research Associate, ISSSP, NIAS

Afghanistan