Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivered the opening address as the National People’s Congress convened today. Here are some key takeaways from his work report.. Read more at straitstimes.com.
BEIJING – China on Monday (March 5) opened its annual legislative session, the first since the important 19th Party Congress last October when a new Communist Party leadership was anointed.
The National People’s Congress (NPC) is also the biggest event on the country’s political calendar after it became clear that President Xi Jinping intends to stay in power beyond his second five-year term which expires in 2023. The party has proposed amending the state Constitution to remove term limits for presidency, a move that will pave the way for Mr Xi to extend his rule indefinitely.
Approving the proposal and other Constitutional changes including enshrining Mr Xi’s political thought into the national Constitution are high on the agenda of this year’s parliamentary session.
In a marathon delivery that lasted close to two hours, Premier Li Keqiang touted China’s string of accomplishments in the past five years while outlining the government’s priorities – and red lines – in the next five.
Here are some key takeaways from his work report, which covered a wide range of topics, and the buzz surrounding it.
There is no mention of the proposed abolition of term limits for presidency in the work report, but Mr Xi’s name was mentioned no fewer than 12 times – four times more than last year.
The Communist Party gave Mr Xi the title of “core” leader in 2016, a significant strengthening of his position at the time.
The government’s work report last year started making references to him not only as “Chairman Xi”, but also as “Comrade Xi at the core of party leadership”.
This year, a new term made its way to the work report – “Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in the fundamental law”.
It refers to Mr Xi’s political theory that was enshrined in the party charter at last October’s 19th Party Congress. The party has proposed that it be written into the state Constitution, a move that is expected be passed during the on-going parliamentary session.
Political watchers have said that the swift adoption – in a matter of months – of Xi Jinping Thought into both the party and the state Constitution documents is a clear sign of how much power is concentrated in Mr Xi’s hands.
China’s two presidents before Mr Xi – Mr Jiang Zemin and Mr Hu Jintao – had their political theories added to the party’s Constitution only after they stepped down from office. While Mr Jiang’s Three Represents was enshrined in the country’s Constitution thereafter, Mr Hu’s Scientific Outlook on Development is proposed to be constitutionalised only at this NPC session.
Mr Xi is seen as China’s most powerful leader since Chairman Mao Zedong.
Recent developments have raised fears of a return of strongman politics which is blamed for the excesses during Mao’s rule from 1949- 1976.
Premier Li promises the opening up of more sectors to foreign investors even as he vows to “resolutely safeguard” China’s legitimate rights and interests, at a time when the world is seeing growing protectionism.
“We can expect continued recovery of the global economy, but there are also many factors that bring instability and uncertainty,” he said.
“The policy changes of the major economies and their spillover effects create uncertainty; protectionism is mounting, and geopolitical risks are on the ascent,” the premier said, without mentioning US President Donald Trump’s plans for steep global duties on metals to protect US producers.
Mr Trump has frequently accuses Beijing of unfair trade practices to protect Chinese companies.
Mr Li, while touting Mr Xi’s Made in China 2025 plan aimed at upgrading the nation’s manufacturing capabilities, said the general manufacturing sector will be completely opened up and access to sectors like telecommunications, medical services, education, elderly care and new-energy vehicles will be expanded.
Restrictions on the share of foreign-owned equity in companies in sectors including banking, securities, fund management, futures and financial asset management will also be eased or lifted.
