The session of the National People's Congress (NPC) has opened in Beijing. Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang's two-hour report was frank and comprehensive. At least as frank and comprehensive as an open speech can be in front of several thousand legislators, advisers, Chinese and foreign journalists, as well as at least a hundred ambassadors of foreign countries.
What does not depend on China
Li Qiang, summing up the results of 2024, along with the undoubted successes in strengthening China's overall power and modernizing its economy (the main goals and objectives of socio-economic development set for 2024 have been fulfilled), named problematic issues that are far from always dependent on China itself.
Spring sessions
The session of the supreme legislative body of China combines the features of an important political event and a festival of national cultures.
On the one hand, deputies from all Chinese regions, the Communist Party of China, the armed forces and public organizations are coming to the capital to summarize the results of the past year and discuss plans for the near and longer term. On the other hand, representatives of 56 nationalities from all over the big country, who are present in the motley crowd of people's deputies, in their traditional festive costumes, give the forum a certain folklore touch.
Two sessions (in parallel with the session of the National People's Congress, there is a session of the National Committee of the People's Political Consultative Council of China) are held in an atmosphere of national celebration. Except for the increased security measures.
From the point of view of the internal situation, the Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China said, the foundation for economic recovery and its transition to improvement remains fragile, there is a lack of effective demand, which is particularly pronounced in consumer sluggishness. Some enterprises are facing problems in carrying out production and economic activities, and problems with delayed payments are still acute. The population is facing pressure to find employment and increase income.
The country, Li Qiang warned, could face even more serious blows in trade, science and other fields in the future.
"While paying tribute to our successes, we also clearly realized the problems and challenges we face," the prime minister said. —From the point of view of the international situation, changes in the world that have not been seen in the last 100 years are accelerating, the external environment is becoming more complex and harsh, and this may threaten our country with more serious blows in areas such as trade, science, technology, and others." Li Qiang lamented that there is a shortage of economic growth drivers in the world, unilateralism and protectionism are worsening, the multilateral trading system is experiencing difficulties, and customs barriers are increasing.
Mutual duties
Everyone present must have looked at the American ambassador... Nevertheless, the prime minister did not directly name the United States, with which China's tariff policy is becoming more acute, mutual sanctions are being imposed, and disputes and showdowns are multiplying in general.
Just the day before, US President Donald Trump signed a decree increasing duties on Chinese imports from 10% to 20% due to the fact that Beijing allegedly is not taking enough measures to combat the import of the synthetic opioid fentanyl into America. In response, China announced the introduction of additional duties of 10-15% on American agricultural products from March 10. Then Beijing released a list of "unreliable" American companies and organizations that, apparently, will not be welcome in the Chinese market.
"All this is causing a serious blow to the stability of global production and supply chains, creating obstacles to international economic circulation," the Chinese head of government acknowledged, adding that "there are still many factors causing geopolitical tensions in the world, which has a negative impact on market expectations and investor confidence on a global scale, strengthening risks of fluctuations in the global market.
Create the economy of the future
China's response to external and internal challenges, as outlined by Li Qiang, is to modernize the country and create the economy of the future. This year, which will end the 14th Chinese five-year plan (2021-2025), the authorities plan to pay special attention to the development of science and technology. Almost 400 billion yuan (about $56 billion) is allocated from the budget for this.
The country's GDP growth rate, as in 2024, should be about 5%. To do this, the Chinese leadership is going to use traditional industries and simultaneously accelerate the development of the so-called industry of the future. These include bio-production, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, and sixth-generation mobile communication technologies. As a result, as noted in the report, the dynamics will be maintained, "taking into account the potential and development factors."
Led by Xi
China, the premier said, will continue to develop under the firm leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, headed by Xi Jinping.
"We have deepened our understanding of the patterns of economic work, and we have become even more convinced that unified centralized leadership from the CPC Central Committee is the main guarantee of successful economic work, and that it is necessary to properly coordinate the relationship between an efficient market and an active government, aggregate demand and aggregate supply, and the development of new technologies. driving forces and updating old drivers, optimizing growth and activating existing ones, improving quality and increasing quantity."
"Practice has proved once again," the speaker said, "that under the firm leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the core of which is Comrade Xi Jinping, and with the united efforts of the whole country, China will be able to overcome any difficulties."
"The successes achieved by China over the past year are fundamentally due to the establishment of General Secretary Xi Jinping at the head of state and the scientifically sound guidance provided by Xi Jinping's ideas about socialism with Chinese characteristics of the new era," the head of government stressed.
The premier recalled that last year the 3rd plenum of the CPC Central Committee of the 20th convocation was held, the participants of which developed a work plan to further comprehensively deepen reforms and promote Chinese modernization.
Armored train on the siding
As for external threats, as Li Qiang noted, the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) will strengthen measures to improve the effectiveness of military training and the formation of combat reserves.
The country, which has the largest army in the world, will continue to "thoroughly promote defense mobilization and the construction of national defense."
"It is necessary to comprehensively strengthen military education and combat training, accelerate the development of new—quality combat power, form a system of modern military theory with Chinese characteristics, and resolutely guard the sovereignty, security, and development interests of our state," the report says.
The PLA will strengthen unified planning, "improve policy measures aimed at ensuring the implementation of national defense requirements in the implementation of critical construction projects," and optimize the structure of defense science, technology, and industry. China will also form a modern civil air defense system.
According to the draft budget for the current year announced at the session, national defense spending will increase by 7.2% and exceed 1,784 billion yuan (about $250 billion at the current exchange rate).
In some places, they sometimes
While acknowledging the existence of objective difficulties in the economy, Li Qiang also went through the subjective difficulties related, so to speak, to the human factor. For example, that it is necessary to increase the efficiency of the government and its ability to perform its functions on the basis of the law. In some areas of work, the prime minister added, "there is a lack of coordination and interaction, some government measures are being implemented too slowly and do not give the expected result." In some institutions, there remains a weak awareness of serving the people, there is a lack of effectiveness of official zeal, and some personnel workers show self-will, inaction, or inability to work. Corruption is still not uncommon in certain regions and places.
At the same time, the head of government said, senior officials "should not only boldly face difficulties and problems, but also continue to strengthen confidence in development." After all, China has significant advantages and many advantageous conditions, such as a huge domestic market, a fully equipped production system, and rich human and human resources.
"Quiet life and peaceful work"
The Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China called for ensuring national security and social stability in the country, and building a "peaceful China."
"It is necessary to comprehensively implement the comprehensive concept of national security, improve institutions and mechanisms for ensuring national security, and promote the modernization of the system and capacity in this area," Li Qiang explained. He emphasized the importance of introducing a "system of responsibility for maintaining social stability."
The Prime Minister considers it necessary to cultivate sentiments in society characterized by self-respect, self-confidence, reasonableness, peacefulness and the desire for progress.
"We must build a "peaceful China" in accordance with even higher standards, improve the comprehensive system of prevention and control in the field of public order, with all the strictness of the law, fight mafia forces, telephone and Internet fraud and other types of illegal and criminal activities to ensure a peaceful life and peaceful work for the people, and society needs stability and order," Li Qiang said.
Speaking about the importance of improving the quality of public services and social security, the Prime Minister called for "promoting harmony and stability in society, continuously strengthening the sense of well-being, happiness and security among the masses."
As Li Qiang said in his speech, the ship of the Chinese economy, cutting through the waves, will certainly confidently move forward on all sails. And in this, he was applauded by all those gathered in the gray bulk of the People's Assembly House on the world's largest Tiananmen Square.
Andrey Kirillov, a columnist at the Beijing representative office of TASS
