2. NPC opens

Second session of 14th National People’s Congress opens in Beijing

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 5 – The second session of the 14th National People’s Congress opened on the morning of the 5th at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Nearly 3,000 deputies to the National People’s Congress attended the congress shouldering the great trust of the people and fulfilling their sacred responsibilities entrusted by the constitution and law.

The atmosphere in the auditorium of the Great Hall of the People was solemn and warm, and the national emblem in the center of the curtain on the rostrum shone brightly against the bright red flag.

Zhao Leji, executive chairman and executive chairman of the presidium of the conference, presided over the conference. Standing Chairman and Executive Chairman of the Conference Presidium Li Hongzhong, Wang Dongming, Xiao Jie, Zheng Jianbang, Ding Zhongli, Hao Mingjin, Cai Dafeng, He Wei, Wu Weihua, Tiening, Peng Qinghua, Zhang Qingwei, Luosang Jiangcun, Xue Keleti Zakir, Chairman Liu Qizai The executive chairman of the stage took his seat.

Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng and members of the presidium of the conference took their seats on the rostrum.

The second session of the 14th National People’s Congress should be attended by 2,956 representatives. At the meeting on the morning of the 5th, 2,872 people attended and 84 were absent. The number of people present complied with the quorum.

At 9 a.m., Zhao Leji announced the opening of the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China. Everyone in the venue stood up and sang the national anthem.

According to the meeting agenda, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council delivered a government work report to the meeting on behalf of the State Council. The report is divided into three parts: 1. Work review in 2023; 2. Overall requirements and policy orientation for economic and social development in 2024; 3. Government work tasks in 2024.

Li Qiang pointed out in the report that the past year was the first year to fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the first year for this government to perform its duties in accordance with the law. Faced with an extremely complex international environment and the arduous tasks of reform, development and stability, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core united and led the people of all ethnic groups across the country to withstand external pressure, overcome internal difficulties, and made arduous efforts to achieve stable prevention and control of the new crown epidemic. The major goals and tasks of economic and social development throughout the year were successfully achieved, high-quality development was solidly advanced, the overall social situation remained stable, and solid steps were taken to comprehensively build a modern socialist country.

Li Qiang pointed out in the report that over the past year, we have thoroughly studied and implemented the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Second Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. In accordance with the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee, we have mainly done the following work: First, we have increased macro-control efforts to promote sustained economic operation. The second is to rely on innovation to lead industrial upgrading and enhance new momentum for urban and rural regional development; the third is to deepen reform and expand opening up, and continue to improve the business environment; the fourth is to strengthen ecological and environmental protection and governance, and accelerate the green transformation of development methods; the fifth is to focus on people’s livelihood Ensure and promote the development of social undertakings; sixth, comprehensively strengthen government construction and vigorously improve governance efficiency.

Li Qiang pointed out in the report that while affirming the achievements, we are also clearly aware of the difficulties and challenges we face. We must face problems and challenges head-on, do our best to do our job well, and never let down the expectations and trust of the people.

Li Qiang pointed out in the report that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China and is a critical year for achieving the goals and tasks of the "14th Five-Year Plan". The main expected development goals for this year are: GDP growth of about 5%; more than 12 million new urban jobs, and urban surveyed unemployment rate of about 5.5%; consumer price increase of about 3%; residents’ income growth and economic growth synchronized; international The balance of payments remains basically balanced; grain output exceeds 1.3 trillion jins; energy consumption per unit of GDP is reduced by about 2.5%, and the quality of the ecological environment continues to improve.

Li Qiang pointed out in the report that we must persist in seeking progress while maintaining stability, promoting stability through advancement, and establishing first before breaking. To achieve this year’s development goals and tasks, we must thoroughly implement Xi Jinping’s economic thoughts and concentrate on promoting high-quality development. We must deepen reform and opening up with greater determination and intensity, promote a better combination of effective markets and promising governments, continue to stimulate and enhance social vitality, and promote high-quality development to achieve new and greater results.

Li Qiang pointed out in the report that the Party Central Committee has made comprehensive arrangements for this year’s work. We must implement it in depth, firmly grasp the main contradictions, strive to break through bottlenecks, and do a solid job in various tasks: vigorously promote the construction of a modern industrial system, accelerate development New productive forces; deeply implement the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education and strengthen the basic support for high-quality development; focus on expanding domestic demand and promote a virtuous cycle of the economy; unswervingly deepen reforms and enhance endogenous driving force for development; expand high-level opening up to the outside world and promote mutually beneficial cooperation. Win; better coordinate development and security, effectively prevent and resolve risks in key areas; persist in doing a good job in "agriculture, rural areas and farmers" and solidly promote the overall revitalization of rural areas; promote urban-rural integration and coordinated regional development, vigorously optimize economic layout; strengthen the construction of ecological civilization, Promote green and low-carbon development; effectively protect and improve people’s livelihood, and strengthen and innovate social governance.

In the report, Li Qiang also elaborated on strengthening the government’s own construction, ethnic, religious and overseas Chinese affairs, national defense and military construction, the development of Hong Kong and Macao and cross-strait relations, as well as my country’s foreign policy.

According to the agenda of the meeting, the conference reviewed the State Council’s report on the implementation of the 2023 National Economic and Social Development Plan and the 2024 Draft National Economic and Social Development Plan and the 2024 Draft National Economic and Social Development Plan, the State Council’s report on the implementation of the 2023 central and local budgets Report on the situation and the draft central and local budgets for 2024 and the draft central and local budgets for 2024.

Entrusted by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Li Hongzhong gave an explanation on the draft revision of the Organic Law of the State Council.

The explanation on the revised draft of the Organic Law of the State Council points out that the Organic Law of the State Council is the basic law on the organizational system and work system of the State Council, and plays an important role in ensuring that the State Council performs its duties in accordance with the constitution and law. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as the core has vigorously promoted the reform process of party and state institutions. The functional system of national institutions continues to achieve new progress and new results. In order to adapt to the new situation, new tasks and new requirements, it is necessary to amend the Organic Law of the State Council on the basis of carefully summarizing practical experience, and include important contents such as adhering to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and upholding the overall leadership of the Party into the Organic Law of the State Council. , the spirit and results of deepening the reform of party and state institutions will be reflected through legal provisions. Amending the Organic Law of the State Council is an inevitable requirement for the State Council to adhere to the party’s overall leadership and comprehensively strengthen the government’s self-construction in the new era. It is an institutional guarantee for the State Council to adhere to the people-centered and adhere to the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly. It is an inevitable requirement for the State Council to fully implement the Constitution and the Constitution in the new era. An important aspect of comprehensively building a law-based government is a powerful measure to deepen the reform of party and state institutions and promote the modernization of the national governance system and governance capabilities. The revised draft of the State Council Organic Law contains 20 articles. The main modifications include: adding provisions on the nature and status of the State Council, clarifying the guiding ideology of the State Council’s work, improving the expression of the State Council’s powers, improving the relevant provisions on the composition of the State Council, and improving the relevant provisions on the State Council’s institutions and their powers. Improve the meeting system of the State Council and increase the institutional measures for the State Council to fully and correctly perform its functions in accordance with the law.

Also sitting on the rostrum are: Ma Xingrui, Wang Yi, Yin Li, Shi Taifeng, Liu Guozhong, Li Ganjie, Li Shulei, He Weidong, He Lifeng, Zhang Youxia, Zhang Guoqing, Chen Wenqing, Chen Jining, Chen Min’er, Yuan Jiajun, Huang Kunming, Liu Jinguo, Wang Xiaohong, Wu Zhenglong, Chen Yiqin, Zhang Jun, Ying Yong, Hu Chunhua, Shen Yueyue, Wang Yong, Zhou Qiang, Pabala Glenje, Ho Hau Wah, Leung Chun-ying, Battelle, Su Hui, Shao Hong, Gao Yunlong, Chen Wu , Mu Hong, Xian Hui, Wang Dongfeng, Jiang Xinzhi, Jiang Zuojun, He Baoxiang, Wang Guangqian, Qin Boyong, Zhu Yongxin, Yang Zhen, as well as members of the Central Military Commission Liu Zhenli and Zhang Shengmin, etc.

Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Li Jiachao and Chief Executive of the Macau Special Administrative Region Ho Iat Seng attended the meeting and took seats on the podium.

CPPCC members who attended the Second Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference attended the meeting as non-voting delegates.

Relevant responsible persons from relevant departments of the central and state agencies, relevant units of the People’s Liberation Army and the Armed Police Force, and various people’s organizations attended or observed the conference.

Foreign envoys stationed in China attended the conference.