China’s ‘two sessions’: key takeaways from the opening of the National from buzai232's blog

Premier Li Keqiang kick-started China’s parliamentary session by outlining the economic growth target for the nation and pledging to stop foreign interference in Hong Kong.To get more news about LiangHui 2021, you can visit shine news official website.

In his 30-page government work report delivered at the National People’s Congress on Friday morning, Li said China still faced a series of challenges, ranging from lack of growth momentum to problems arising from the Covid-19 pandemic. He pledged measures to boost long-term growth, with a focus on innovation and tax cuts.Li said the central government would ensure the “comprehensive and accurate” implementation of “one country, two systems”, “Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong” and “high degree of autonomy”.

“We will resolutely guard against and deter external forces’ interference in the affairs of Hong Kong and Macau. We will support both regions as they grow their economies and improve people’s lives, so as to maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macau,” he said.

Expanding on the plan to reform the Hong Kong electoral system, NPC Standing Committee vice-chairman Wang Chen said there were loopholes in Hong Kong that allowed foreign forces to interfere in the city’s affairs. Some even used their public office to call for such interference.

“The risks in the system need to be removed, and a democratic electoral system with Hong Kong characteristics needs to be established,” he said.Bracing for more fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, Li said China’s GDP growth for 2021 would be “above 6 per cent”.

The Chinese economy still faced challenges, including weak domestic consumption and struggles for small and medium-sized enterprises, and the risk of unemployment was on the rise, he said.

To offset those challenges, Li said China would try to keep the urban unemployment rate at about 5.5 per cent, and aim for a consumer price index of about 3 per cent this year.Li said training for the People’s Liberation Army would be boosted, raising their readiness for battle. He said better coordination to address security risks was needed.

The military budget for 2021 would increase to 1.355 trillion yuan. The 6.8 per cent increase is slightly higher than the 6.6 per cent growth last year.Earlier, analysts expected defence budget growth would be lower, at about 6 per cent, because China was still battling the Covid-19 pandemic.