The National People’s Political Consultative Conference (PPPC), which constitutes the ‘Two Sessions’, the largest annual political event in which China’s state administration policy is set, opens its doors on the 4th and the National People’s Congress (NPC) on the 5th.
This year, China, which has been implementing a strong containment policy of ‘Zero Corona’ for the past three years, is transitioning to ‘With Corona’ and entering a reopening (resumption of economic activity), and it is also the year that Xi Jinping’s third term in power is officially launched. This episode is getting more attention.
At this two sessions, it is expected that the new national organization and leadership appointments under Xi Jinping’s third term will be confirmed, while this year’s economic growth target and major economic stimulus measures will be disclosed, confirming the direction of the Chinese leadership’s state affairs.
At the 20th Party Congress held in October last year, President Xi confirmed the reappointment of the General Secretary of the Communist Party and the Chairman of the Central Military Commission. This two sessions are events at the national level, through which President Xi will serve three consecutive terms as President of the State and Chairman of the National Military Commission.
First of all, the composition of Xi Jinping’s third term leadership, policy direction in the reopening situation, and reorganization of security organizations are the points to watch for this year’s two sessions.
Premier Li Keqiang, who served as the “balancing weight” for Xi Jinping’s economic policy, will retire after giving a business report at the opening ceremony.
Zhao Leji, third in the party’s ranking, and Wang Huning, fourth in the ranking, serve as chairperson of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee, respectively.
In addition, four deputy premiers of the State Council were appointed, including Deputy Prime Minister Ding Xuexiang, who is ranked seventh in the ranking, as well as Heifeng, Liu Guozhong, and Guoqing Zhang. ), Woo Jeong-rong (concurrent post of Secretary General of the State Council), Seon Yi-chin, and Chin Kang (concurrent post of Minister of Foreign Affairs) are known to be influential.
At the opening ceremony of the National People’s Congress, Premier Li Keqiang announced this year’s economic growth target.
China proposed a growth rate of around 5.5% last year, but it only grew by 3.0% amid the effects of the high-intensity zero-corona policy and the war in Ukraine. Many experts predict that the Chinese government will set this year’s economic growth target at ‘around 5%’.
Along with personnel and economy, another point to watch is the reorganization of the organization with an emphasis on ‘safety’.
Ahead of the two sessions, the possibility of launching the ‘Central Home Affairs Committee (tentative name)’, a body directly under the party’s central body, which oversees safety tasks such as public security, counter-terrorism, counterintelligence, immigration, family registration, and even civil administration, is being discussed. It is also argued that the current Ministry of Public Security and National Security are separated from the State Council system and incorporated into this committee, and Wang Xiaohong, the current head of the Ministry of Public Security and an aide to President Xi, can preside over the committee.
In addition, mentions of foreign policy, population policy, and the Belt and Road Initiative are also noteworthy.
China, which has been under check from the US and other Western camps for the past several years, is expected to reveal its diplomatic goals and plans at the two sessions.
The new Prime Minister, Li Chang, will deliver the position of the Chinese Party Central Committee and the government on various issues through a press conference held on the day of the closing of the National People’s Congress, which is expected to be held on the 11th.
Qin Gang, the new Foreign Minister, who is a symbolic figure of ‘Wolf Diplomacy’, will also mention related positions with an emphasis on diplomacy at a press conference for domestic and foreign media on the 7th.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.