China's national legislature opens annual session

BEIJING -- The 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, opened its second session Tuesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng were present at the opening meeting, which was attended by nearly 3,000 NPC deputies.

Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the session's presidium, presided over the meeting.

Premier Li Qiang delivered a government work report at the meeting.

In the face of an unusually complex international environment and the challenging tasks of advancing reform and development and ensuring stability at home, China accomplished main goals and tasks for economic and social development in 2023 and made solid advances in building a modern socialist country in all respects, Li said when delivering the government work report to the session.

Reviewing the work that was carried out last year, he said the government strengthened macro regulation and promoted steady economic recovery and growth. Other work he listed includes promoting industrial upgrading through innovation, deepening reform, expanding opening up, and improving the business environment.

While recognizing the achievements, Li acknowledged problems and challenges, vowing that the government will face them head-on, make every effort to deliver, and do its utmost to live up to the expectations and trust of the people.

Li said the year 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and it is a crucial year for fulfilling the objectives and tasks set out in the 14th Five-Year Plan. He disclosed major targets for this year's development, including a GDP growth of around 5 percent, the creation of over 12 million jobs in urban areas, and a CPI increase of around 3 percent.

To achieve the targets, the premier called for more efforts to advance high-quality development, promote better interplay between an efficient market and a well-functioning government, and further stimulate and boost the vitality of the society.

Li outlined major tasks for 2024, including striving to modernize the industrial system and developing new quality productive forces at a faster pace, invigorating China through science and education, expanding domestic demand, continuing to deepen reform and pursuing higher-standard opening up.

He also elaborated on work related to improving government performance, ethnic and religious affairs, national defense and military development, the development of Hong Kong and Macao, cross-Strait relations, and foreign policy.

Lawmakers reviewed a report from the State Council on the implementation of the 2023 plan for national economic and social development and on the 2024 draft plan, as well as the draft plan for national economic and social development in 2024.

They also reviewed a report from the State Council on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2023 and on the draft central and local budgets for 2024, as well as the draft central and local budgets for 2024.

Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, explained a draft revision to the Organic Law of the State Council at the opening meeting. The draft revision consists of 20 articles.

The law is of crucial significance to ensuring that the State Council performs its duties in accordance with the Constitution and other laws, the explanation stated.