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Two Sessions 2023 (Lianghui): Top Priorities

Two Sessions refers to China's annual parliamentary meetings, where the two main political bodies of China - the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) - reveal plans for China's policies involving the economy, military, trade, diplomacy, the environment and more. This year’s event will be the first after China dropped its three-year-old Covid-19 restrictions. It will see a major reshuffle of top government jobs including the premier. President Xi Jinping, who just secured a ground-breaking third term as party’s leader, is set to secure a third presidential term at the two sessions too.

A new Chinese commission will coordinate and promote the creation of a “national innovation system”. Photo: Shutterstock Images

Science

China’s Communist Party to take science and tech reins to break US containment

New commission will centralise leadership, determining national strategy and goals.

18 Mar 2023 - 12:22AMvideocam

Two Sessions 2023 (Lianghui): Top Priorities

China’s Communist Party to take science and tech reins to break US containment

New commission will centralise leadership, determining national strategy and goals.

Are US sanctions to blame for deadlocked military engagement with China?

China’s Xi vows ‘peaceful’ Taiwan ties as caution marks tone from Beijing

Li Qiang takes 1 foreign affairs question – on US-China decoupling

In the traditional press conference at the end of the parliamentary meetings, the Chinese premier makes few comments on diplomacy.

Explainer | Who is Yi Gang, the US-educated governor of China’s central bank?

Since being appointed central bank governor in 2018, US-educated Yi Gang has led financial reforms and a debt reduction campaign, while maintaining a prudent monetary stance.

China’s central bank, finance chiefs retain spots in cabinet shake-up

China’s ‘two sessions’ confirms top roles for Yi Gang and Liu Kun at the central bank and the Ministry of Finance as authorities confront financial headwinds.

Technology, economy at forefront as China’s ‘two sessions’ takes centre stage

In this edition of the Global Impact newsletter, we break down events from the first week of China’s ‘two sessions’ in Beijing.

China to develop dredger ‘more powerful than South China Sea island-builder’

Self-propelled suction machine will feature a 10,000kW reamer, adding to the country’s fleet.

China is playing catch-up in a ChatGPT world, Chinese lawmaker says

The country needs to advance its own cognitive development models, which are far behind the best competitors, iFlytek founder says.

China’s top legislature fills prosecutor, judge and anti-graft positions

Former Hubei party chief Ying Yong, responsible for the country’s initial response to the Covid-19 outbreak in Wuhan, is named procurator-general.

Li Qiang is China’s new premier, but how much power will he wield?

Li Qiang was confirmed as China’s premier – its No 2 official – on Saturday during the ‘two sessions’, but the position is seen to hold diminishing authority as President Xi Jinping consolidates power.

Is Beijing being too lax with policy as China loses its ‘demographic dividend’?

A widening population imbalance continues to plague China, but this year’s government work report did not offer much detail about how the dilemma will be addressed, raising concerns.

China’s debt-saddled local governments underscore its moderate GDP target

Talk of financial risk management at annual parliamentary meetings serves as a high-profile reassurance of leadership’s repeated vows to curb financial risks and alleviate revenue problems across the country.

China’s Covid-weary entrepreneurs hesitate on Xi’s ‘common prosperity’ call

President Xi Jinping has again urged entrepreneurs to give to charity and ‘share the fruits of growth’, but his message could find a muted reaction among private firms still recovering from three years of Covid uncertainty.

‘Stopgap measure’ or can trade talks prevent China-US ties from derailing?

The Ministry of Commerce in Beijing said on Wednesday that it was ‘open’ to a visit by US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo after she said last week that she was considering visiting China.

China’s ‘two sessions’ 2023: Asia-Pacific uncertainties drive arms build-up

China is the latest country in the region to announce a boost in its defence budget, with analysts expecting the trend to gather pace.

Xi Jinping hails private firms, but will ‘actions speak louder than words’?

For China, the task of boosting the private economy will be divided into more detailed plans and be allocated to specific government agencies for implementation after the ongoing ‘two sessions’ parliamentary meetings.

Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang tells US to ‘hit the brakes’

Qin uses his first press conference in his new role to blame Washington for the current tensions, citing its ‘overreaction’ to an alleged spy balloon.

China has ‘shattered’ Western modernisation myth: foreign minister

China’s growth model an important source of inspiration for developing nations, Qin Gang says at first press conference in new role.

China berates Japan over massive military expansion plans

Chinese foreign minister invokes wartime past in warning to Tokyo to not upset the international order.

Chinese foreign minister promises tough approach to ‘jackals and wolves’

In his first press conference in the role, Qin Gang signals China will not back down under pressure, but shrugs off ‘Wolf Warrior’ label.

China hints at ‘safe and credible’ currency cooperation with Russia

Foreign Minister Qin Gang hails Russian relations, blasts ‘invisible hand’ escalating Ukraine conflict.

China’s foreign minister demands US explain ‘destruction of Taiwan’ plans

‘If the Taiwan question cannot be handled well, it will shake the very foundation of China-US relations,’ Qin warns.

China responds to US tech curbs, financial risks with broad regulatory shake-up

China will create a new oversight body for parts of the finance sector, strengthen the science and technology ministry, and establish a new data regime in an effort to fortify the country against mounting risks.

China’s Qin Gang urges Asia to go for growth, not power games

Foreign minister says Chinese economic prospects are good for the region, which should not be treated as a ‘geopolitical chessboard’.

Xi Jinping accuses US of leading West to suppress China’s development

In rare singling out of Washington, Chinese president says America brings China ‘unprecedented severe challenges to the country’s development’.

As it happened: China hits out at US on Ukraine, rate rises and Taiwan

Qin says containment and suppression will not make America great and won’t stop China.

Incentivise China’s degree-seekers to make babies, delegate urges in proposal

China’s universities and colleges are urged to fall in line with national childbirth policy direction, but some demographers warn against encouraging or discouraging students in family planning.