2024 National People's Congress Explained

Status:inactive
Chinese:第十四届全国人民代表大会第二次会议
Pinyin:Dì-shísì Jiè Quánguó Rénmín Dàibiǎo Dàhuì Dì-èrcì Huìyì
Year:2024
Session:2nd
#:14th
Term-Begin:5 March
Term-End:11 March
Pz:Xi Jinping
Pzterm:10 March 2023
Pm:Li Qiang
Pmterm:11 March 2023
Ch:Zhao Leji
Chterm:10 March 2023
Lastyear:2023
Nextyear:2025

The 2024 National People's Congress (NPC) was the Second Plenary Session of the 14th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China (PRC). It was held from 5 March to 11 March 2024, concurrently with the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) as part of the annual Two Sessions. The NPC was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The event was held largely without COVID restrictions for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] On 4 March, The NPC spokesperson Lou Qinjian said Premier Li Qiang won't hold the annual press conferences for the remaining term of China's parliament, which ends in 2027, ending a tradition maintained for three decades.[2]

The session

In his maiden government work report on 5 March, Premier Li Qiang spent considerable time discussing how to help struggling private players as well as ease the concerns of foreign businesses. He promised the government would settle overdue payments owed to private businesses.[3] The report mentioned that the government would want to make it easier for migrant workers to be able to change their hukous to urban ones, a subject has long been discussed.[4] It also mentioned that China will improve birth policy to support a growing elderly population by raising benefits and basic pensions and pushing forward a private pension system.[5] Li said Hong Kong should continue implementing the governing principles of “One country, two systems” and “patriotic administration”, and added that Beijing would support Hong Kong in developing its economy and improving residents’ livelihood.[6] He attributed a litany of achievements in 2023 to Xi, and called for officials to rally more closely around the Chinese Communist Party with Xi Jinping at its core.[7] Li rattled off the report in 50 minutes, the shortest time since 2001.[8] Xinhua News Agency summarized the highlights of the report, including:[9]

Xi Jinping,[10] Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attended separately deliberations at the second session of the 14th NPC on later that day,[11] 6 March[12] and 7 March.[13] On 7 March, the delegation of deputies from Xinjiang in a group meeting denial persecution of Uyghurs and pledged to continuous opening-up.[14]

On 8 March, the NPC deputies held group meetings to review the work report of the NPCSC.[15] Zhao Leji delivered the report at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th NPC.[16] The report pledged to enact legislation including an emergency management law and atomic energy law, and will revise laws on national defence education and cybersecurity.[17]

Voting results

Resolutions

!Topic!For!Against!Abstain!Rate
Premier Li Qiang's Government Work Report2,8952399.83%
Amendment to the Organic Law of the State Council2,8838999.41%
Report on the Implementation of the 2023 National Economic and Social Development Plan and the 2024 Draft Plan2,879101199.28%
Report on the Execution of the Central and Local Budgets for 2023 and on the Draft Central and Local Budgets for 20242,876131199.17%
Chairman Zhao Leji's NPCSC Work Report2,8887599.58%
Chief Justice Zhang Jun's Supreme People's Court Work Report2,83442297.72%
Procurator-General Ying Yong's Supreme People's Procuratorate Work Report2,86427998.76%

Economic targets and budget

The following economic targets were set by the government work report submitted to the NPC:

!!2024 target!
GDP growth~5%[18]
CPI~3%
New urban jobs12 million
Deficit-to-GDP ratio3%[19]
The NPC session also adopted the following central government budget:[20]

Government budget

In trillions of renminbi:

!!Planned!% change
Central general public budget revenue10.2432.9
Central general public budget expenditure14.4062
Central government expenditure4.1528.6
Transfer to local governments10.2034.1
Local general public budget revenue12.1533.7
Local general public budget expenditure24.3473
National general public budget revenue22.3953.3
National general public budget expenditure28.5494

Central public budget expenditure

In billions of renminbi:

!!Planned!% change
General public services158.64.5
Diplomacy60.86.6
National defense1,665.57.2
Public security227.71.4
Education164.95
Science and technology370.810
Culture, tourism, sports and media19.010
Social security and employment117.511.6
Health33.011.3
Energy conservation and environmental protection20.97.1
Urban and rural communities0.430.7
Agriculture, forestry and water27.36.5
Transportation84.89.6
Resource exploration and industrial information44.811.1
Commercial services4.239.9
Financial60.515.4
Natural resources, oceanography and meteorology28.2–1.4
Housing security62.30.2
Stockpiling grain, edible oils, and other materials140.68.1
Debt interest payments777.311.9
Total4,152.08.6
Source:[21]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Simone McCarthy. Nectar Gan. Tighter control and high-tech push: Key takeaways from China's biggest annual political event. CNN. 2024-03-11.
  2. Web site: Adrianna Zhang. Wenhao Ma. Bo Gu. Chuang Chih-wei. China Watchers: No Premier's Annual Press Conference, No Difference. 2024-03-04. Voice of America.
  3. Web site: Luna Sun. China's 'two sessions' 2024: did Premier Li Qiang's speech move the needle for foreign, private business?. 2024-03-05. South China Morning Post.
  4. Web site: HUIZHONG WU. Economic plans, Taiwan and other things to know from the opening of China's legislature. 2024-03-06. AP.
  5. Web site: China's NPC: What you need to know. Reuters. 2024-03-05.
  6. Web site: Hong Kong should continue 'patriotic' administration, China's no. 2 official Li Qiang says at Two Sessions meeting. 2024-03-05. Hong Kong Free Press.
  7. Web site: Joe Leahy. Ryan McMorrow. Hudson Lockett. China sets 'ambitious' 5% growth target and flags risks to economy. Financial Times. 2024-03-05.
  8. CHARLIE CAMPBELL. 'Head in the Sand': Why China's Static 2024 Congress Should Worry Everyone. Time. 2024-03-07.
  9. Web site: Highlights of Chinese government work report. 2024-03-05. Xinhuanet.
  10. Web site: Xi stresses developing new quality productive forces according to local conditions. 2024-03-05. Xinhuanet.
  11. Web site: Chinese leaders attend deliberations at annual legislative session. 2024-03-06. China Daily.
  12. Web site: Chinese leaders join NPC deputies, political advisors in deliberation, discussions. People's Daily. 2024-03-07.
  13. Web site: Chinese leaders attend deliberations at annual legislative session. 2024-03-07. Xinhuanet.
  14. Web site: Chen Jing. 中共新疆党委书记马兴瑞:不能因恐怖主义分裂主义不开放. Lianhe Zaobao. 2024-03-07. zh-cn.
  15. Web site: Advisory: Schedules for China's "two sessions" on March 8. 2024-03-07. Xinhuanet.
  16. Web site: Chinese lawmakers deliberate work report of NPC Standing Committee. 2024-03-08. Xinhuanet.
  17. Web site: Joe Cash. Laurie Chen. China's top legislators pledge to safeguard sovereignty, security interests. 2024-03-08. Reuters.
  18. Web site: 6 March 2024 . China unveils 2024 growth targets with focus on high-quality development . 13 October 2024 . State Council of the People's Republic of China.
  19. News: 5 March 2024 . China sets targeted fiscal deficit-to-GDP ratio at 3% . 13 October 2024 . China Daily.
  20. Web site: 5 March 2024 . Report on the Execution of the Central and Local Budgets for 2023 and on the Draft Central and Local Government Budgets for 2024 . 13 October 2024 . NPC Observer.
  21. Web site: 2024年中央本级支出预算表 . 2024 Central Government Expenditure Budget . 13 October 2024 . Ministry of Finance.