The 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, opened its second session on Tuesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, while the second session of the 14th National Committee of the People's Political Consultative Conference is taking place in parallel. Chinese (CPPCC).
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Famous personalities such as Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attended the opening session, which was attended by nearly 3,000 NPC deputies.
Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the meeting presidium, chaired the meeting. Chinese Premier Li Qiang presented the report on the government's work.
Facing an unusually complex international environment and the challenging tasks of advancing reform and development and ensuring internal stability, China achieved key economic and social development goals and tasks in 2023, Li said.
Presenting the report on the government's work at the meeting, Li added that solid progress has been made in all aspects in building a modern socialist country.
Reviewing the work carried out over the past year, he noted that the government has strengthened macro regulation and promoted stable economic recovery and growth. Other works listed by him include promoting industrial upgrading through innovation, deepening reforms, expanding opening-up and improving the business environment.
While acknowledging the achievements, Li also acknowledged that there are problems and challenges, and promised that the government will address them, make every effort and do its utmost to live up to people's expectations and trust.
Li said 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and is a crucial year for achieving the goals and tasks set in the 14th Five-Year Plan. He listed key development goals for this year, including gross domestic product (GDP) growth of around 5 percent, creation of more than 12 million jobs in urban areas and an increase in the consumer price index of around 3 percent.
To achieve the goals, the Prime Minister called for greater efforts to promote high-quality development, promote better interaction between an efficient market and a well-functioning government, and further stimulate and increase the vitality of society.
Li defined the main tasks for 2024, including striving to modernize the industrial system and accelerate the development of new high-quality productive forces, revitalizing China through science and education, expanding domestic demand, further deepening reforms and seeking higher standards.
He also explained the works related to improving government performance, ethnic and religious affairs, national defense and military development, development of Hong Kong and Macao, cross-strait relations and foreign policy.
Lawmakers considered a State Council report on the implementation of the 2023 national economic and social development plan and the draft plan for 2024, as well as the draft plan for national economic and social development in 2024.
They also examined a State Council report on the implementation of the central and local budgets for 2023 and the draft central and local budgets for 2024 and the draft central and local budgets for 2024.
Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, explained a draft revision of the State Council's Organic Law at the opening meeting. The review project consists of 20 articles.
The law is crucial to ensure that the State Council carries out its functions in accordance with the Constitution and other laws, he stressed in the statement.