CHINESE POLITICAL LIFE

In the most populous country in the world, the People's Republic of China, the two sessions (two political meetings) of the Chinese legislature represent a key moment in the Government's calendar. Their relevance goes far beyond Beijing, showing the world first of all loyalty to the country, in which direction they are going, what one of the world's economic powers plans to do, national security.

Meet the National People's Congress, the highest legislative body of the People's Republic of China.

The name Two Sessions refers to the composition of China's two main consultative bodies: Chinese People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

The Chinese People's Congress is the legislative body, the highest organ of state power in China. Its mandate lasts five years and it has 2,980 representatives as of the last election in 2018. It is the world's largest legislative body. Representatives are elected from China's provinces and regions and various government departments, which elect a central committee of about 200 full members and 170 alternates.

Technically speaking, China is unicameral, that is, there is only one legislative house, as in about half of the world's countries starting from Albania to Zambia via Denmark, Peru and New Zealand. However, the Chinese People's Congress is also supplemented by a formal advisory body, making it unofficially bicameral (as it is in just under half of the world's countries, from Australia to the Netherlands to the United States).

That advisory body is the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference whose national committee also meets annually in Beijing - hence the Two Sessions. Members of the Chinese Community People's Political Consultative Conference, or zheng xie wei yuan, are advisers, not politicians, and represent academia as a whole.

The two sessions brought together thousands of the country's leading decision-makers in one place, the entire class of China's political elite in Beijing.

The Prime Minister of the Government of the People's Republic of China, Mr. Li Keqiang, on behalf of the State Council, informed the representatives and journalists that 2022 was a year of great importance in the history of the Communist Party of China. The Party has created an inspiring blueprint for building China into a modern socialist country. Government departments followed the guidelines of President XI Jinping, his thoughts on socialism with Chinese characteristics for the new era.

Faced with turbulent waters in the environment, during the year 2022, Chinese President XI Jinping gathered the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to confront them with difficulties and to improve the social stability of the country. Deep mutual understanding was of crucial importance. He took concrete steps to improve people's welfare and accelerate the development of social programs. He stepped up support to ensure policy implementation by local authorities and help them realize their full potential. Assistance to companies that are facing increasing difficulties in their work has been increased. In this way, they overcame great difficulties and challenges and managed to maintain overall stable economic results. And that means they accelerated the processes of issuing and using government special bonds and provided development financing instruments (targeted lending) in two series, with a total value of 740 billion yuan to supplement capital for large projects, investing in infrastructure and the production sector. Car purchase tax reduction and exemption measures were adopted to encourage car consumption. As a result, sales of new energy vehicles increased by 93.4%. Initiatives have also been launched to encourage spending on green and smart household appliances and green building materials in rural areas. Thanks to these efforts, retail consumption remained stable. Also thanks to dedicated work, industrial production and business expectations have improved significantly. Therefore, the Chinese economy expects a stable recovery of even 5%.

The main goals for 2023 were also presented, namely improving the economy, deepening the reform of the energy market and encouraging creativity, strengthening environmental protection and environmental and carbon-free development. Creating synergy for high quality and development, improving the revitalization of villages, and China's commitment to wider opening to the world was emphasized.

This year's event was the first since China lifted its three-year restrictions due to Covid-19.