China’s national legislature starts annual session

The 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s national legislature, opened its third session on Wednesday morning at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other Chinese leaders were among the 2,880 NPC deputies present at the opening meeting.

Premier Li Qiang delivered a government work report on behalf of the State Council for deliberation.

During the session scheduled from March 5 to 11, NPC deputies will hear the report on the work of the government, review the report on the implementation of the 2024 plan for national economic and social development and on the 2025 draft plan, and the draft plan for national economic and social development in 2025. They will also review the report on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2024 and on the draft central and local budgets for 2025, as well as the draft central and local budgets for 2025.

Additionally, NPC deputies will hear an explanation on the draft amendment to the Law on Deputies to the National People’s Congress and to the Local People’s Congresses at Various Levels.

In the afternoon, NPC delegations will hold meetings to deliberate the government work report.