APD | The fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress concluded successfully

Author: Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan, Sinologist (ex-Diplomat), Editor, Analyst, Non-Resident Fellow of CCG (Center for China and Globalization), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan. (E-mail: [email protected]).

"Two Meetings" is an annual feature and a significant event in the Chinese political and governance system. It is a platform where the Government presents its performance report of the previous year and announces its targets, goats, and policies for the next year.

The fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress concluded successfully on 11 March 2021 (Thursday). Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Keqiang met the press after Congress's closing.

Below are the highlights of his press conference:

China is open and cooperative about tracing coronavirus origin, willing to

continue work with WHO. China is determined for Global cooperation to end Pandemic

To achieve China's aims for 2021 GDP growth of more than 6 percent, it will continue support for small businesses and cut expenditures while expanding.

Regarding Hong Kong, China will continue to act in accordance with the constitution and Basic Law over Hong Kong and will improv the electoral system that adheres to 'one country, two systems.'

China will continue boosting science, technology innovation, greater autonomy in utilizing funds for research, and introducing tax incentives on research and development projects.

China will continue to encourage business startups in line with innovation drive, cooperation among scientists to achieve high goals in tech innovations, and will increase spending on basic research, which is key to enhancing the country's innovation capacity

Regarding Sino-US relations, China hopes to continue to see a dialogue with the US in several areas. The international community may expect stable China-US ties.

On reforms on market entities, which is an essential part of China's reforms, is energizing market entities; China will keep policies aligned with market entities' needs, improve market fairness regulations, and aim to combat business malpractices.

On Taiwan issue, Chinese policy has been clear-cut, consistent, will continue to promote peaceful development of cross-Straits relations, and Taiwan's political parties, groups welcomed exchanges with the mainland under the one-China principle

All policies will be people-centered and must respond to people's needs, Education, healthcare, etc.

China will implements economy strategy of dual circulation of domestic and foreign markets.

To promote common interests, China will continue to reduce the negative list for foreign investment, and China will continue to encourage opening up in the services sector too.

It is belived that the consultative process was very comprehensive. With the participation of people's representatives, stakeholders, and subject experts, the targets set for the year 2021 will be achieved conveniently. Policy opted will be appropriate to achieve the desired results.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)