杂志汇中国与非洲

The lianghui, or the annual Two Sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, are always a great political event in China, but more so this year, with groundbreaking outcomes.

During the half-a-month lianghui period, from March 5 to 20 for the NPC session and from March 3 to 15 for the CPPCC National Committee session, nearly 3,000 NPC deputies and more than 2,100 CPPCC National Committee members gathered in Beijing to discuss the future development of China. The lianghui reviewed the Report on the Work of the Government delivered by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, elected and decided on the new state leadership, new members of the standing committees of the NPC and CPPCC National Committee, adopted the amendments of the Constitution and the Supervisory Law, and approved the state institutional reform plan.

“The greatest achievement made in this year’s lianghui is the fact that Xi Jinping will continue to lead China on the path of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” said Yu Bin, an NPC deputy from Sichuan Province after the closing meeting of the First Session of the 13th NPC on March 20.

Xi, 64, was elected Chinese president by a unanimous vote on March 17. China’s amended Constitution also included Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.

“Under President Xi’s leadership and guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, I believe China will grow stronger on the right path of realizing the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” said Yu.

Xi first took over the presidency five years ago, pledging to push forward the great cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics and strive for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

At the time Xi said in the face of the trend of the times and the earnest expectations of the people for a better life, there was no room for complacency.

China has made historic achievements under Xi’s leadership. The unanimous vote shows the strong support he enjoys among the people. Xi pledged to work for a great modern socialist country that is prosperous, strong, democratic, culturally advanced, harmonious, and beautiful while taking a public oath of allegiance to the Constitution.

“We have a favorable development environment that was unimaginable before, but we still face unprecedented difficulties and challenges,” Xi said at the closing meeting of the First Session of the 13th NPC, adding that only by adhering to and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics can the Chinese nation realize its great rejuvenation.

Comparing the process to materialization of a blueprint to “another Long March,” Xi called on people not to be satisfied with the status quo, stay true to the original aspiration and strive to accomplish it.

“We will devote more energy to and take more concrete measures in ensuring and improving people’s living standards, strengthening and developing new approaches to social governance, resolutely winning the battle against poverty, promoting social fairness and justice, and making steady progress in ensuring people’s access to childcare, education, employment, medical services, elderly care, housing, and social assistance,” said Xi.

Experts believe opening China’s market wider to the outside world is an important way to achieve the blueprint. The Report on the Work of the Government set China’s GDP growth target of 2018 at around 6.5 percent. To achieve this goal, a wide open Chinese market is expected, allowing China to attract more foreign investors as well as to better integrate with the international market.

“China will open its doors wider to foreign investors and further liberalize and facilitate trade and investment,” said Premier Li Keqiang, adding that China will fully open its general manufacturing sector and expand foreign investment access to sectors like financial services, telecommunications and medical services.

Comments to [email protected]Xi Jinping takes a public oath of allegiance to the Constitution in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing after he was elected Chinese president at the First Session of the 13th National People’s Congress on March 17