Annual session of China's national legislature to review key legislative items

The National People's Congress, China's top legislative body, will hold its annual session from Thursday to March 12 in Beijing, as announced by a session spokesman on Wednesday. The fourth session of the 14th NPC is set to begin on Thursday morning and conclude on the afternoon of March 12, spokesman Lou Qinjian said at a press conference.

Lou noted that during this eight-day session, Chinese lawmakers will review three significant legislative items: a draft law on the environmental code, a draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress, and a draft law on national development planning. He highlighted that a key focus of the session will also be deliberating on the draft of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for national economic and social development.

Routine agenda items include reviewing the annual work reports from the central government, the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court, and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, according to him. Lawmakers will also deliberate on the report regarding the implementation of the 2025 plan for national economic and social development and on the 2026 draft plan, as well as the draft plan for national economic and social development in 2026.

Additionally, the report on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2025 and on the draft central and local budgets for 2026 will be examined during the session. Furthermore, he said that the session will also deliberate on the report of the NPC Standing Committee on the work of the overhaul of laws and the proposed handling of certain laws and decisions.

Throughout the session, three news conferences will be held concerning the economy, public welfare, and foreign affairs. On the sidelines of the meetings, various ministers will introduce developments in their sectors, and NPC deputies will share their experiences and stories of fulfilling their duties, the spokesman added.