China: “The Two Sessions” point to accelerated development

Two major events of socialist democracy in China began last weekend (March 4 and 5): the 1st Annual Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCCh), the highest consultative organization of the People’s Republic of China, expression of people’s democracy, people’s unity and national will; and the 1st Annual Session of the 14th National People’s Assembly (APN), the legislative body, which prepares and approves the laws that regulate the country’s life and substantiate the government’s multisectoral action.

Until the next March 13th, the Two Sessions will focus the attention of the Chinese people, who have the most positive expectations about the measures that will be approved, with an impact on the country’s economic and social development and on the improvement of institutions.

The Two Sessions of 2023 will give impetus to the implementation of the decisions of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, which guided towards Chinese modernization. In them are concentrated the great virtues of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era, in them are expressed the great aspirations of the Chinese people, the strength of their ideas and the capacity of their institutions.

The deliberations of the CPPCCh and the APN point towards the resumption of accelerated growth and Chinese modernization. Over the past three years, unexpected and challenging events have occurred. The impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic were not few, as well as the effects of global instability, world political turmoil and geopolitical conflicts.

Fortunately, thanks to the righteous guidance of the Communist Party of China and the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the country has achieved an important victory over the pandemic and made progress in building a moderately prosperous society.

In the report presented by Prime Minister Li Keqiang, there are impressive socioeconomic data that demonstrate the strength of China’s development. Taking stock of the last five years of government, the prime minister reported that the country’s GDP increased to 18 trillion dollars, at an average annual growth rate of 5.2%. The economic growth resulted in the creation of 12.7 million new jobs in cities and urban regions. The vitality of the government’s social policy was expressed in lifting about 100 million residents of rural areas out of poverty. It should be noted that 32 million workers who left poverty got jobs. It is evident that the noblest aspect of building socialism with Chinese characteristics is the pursuit of economic development with positive results in people’s lives. It is one of the greatest examples that in China the people come first and human rights are guaranteed in what is essential – the right to life.

The auspicious news brought by Prime Minister Li Keqiang in the report he presented during the inaugural session of the National People’s Congress is the setting of the GDP growth target at around 5% for 2023, in a clear demonstration that the country is confident in economic recovery and that this will have a direct impact on employment. More than 12 million new jobs will be created in cities and urban regions. This growth target also points towards the balance of the economy, amid the uncertainties that hang over all countries still immersed in economic instability. This aspect stands out even more when one observes the context of geopolitical insecurity due to the military conflict in Eastern Europe and other outbreaks of turbulence in different parts of the world, provoked by powers that aspire to hegemony to the detriment of world peace and self-determination of peoples.

The fixed growth target confirms that China remains one of the main economies in the world, with robust growth, in contrast to the dangers of recession or low growth in large economies such as the US and the European Union.

In this way, China continues to make a great contribution to the world, as with this growth target, the country remains an important driver of global economic growth.

The Chinese Prime Minister’s report also brings good news about the acceleration of the process of modernization of the industrial system. Li Keqiang called for efforts to achieve breakthroughs in essential technologies in key fields, which should result in greater efforts to explore and develop important energy and mineral resources, discover more reserves and increase production.

In the period now opening, China will accelerate the digitization of traditional industries and small and medium enterprises to make them more modern, smarter and more environmentally friendly. Research and development and the application of cutting-edge technologies must be accelerated, and modern logistics system must improve. Such guidelines assume crucial importance for the country’s development, especially when it is verified that a brutal external offensive is underway to repress and contain China.

The prime minister pointed out other goals with a wide social reach, such as epidemiological prevention, the promotion and updating of vaccines and the development of new medicines to guarantee the medical care needs of the population; rural revitalization, with the promotion of rural industries with local characteristics to create more channels for increasing rural income and green transformation, promoting energy conservation and carbon reduction in key areas.

The government’s decision to prioritize the social issue is also manifested in the planned support for the purchase of the first home or the improvement of the housing situation, in addition to helping to solve the housing problems of young people and new urban residents; to high-quality education and social security, strengthening the guarantee of care services for the elderly.

China is fully capable of accelerating the creation of a new development paradigm in favor of high-quality growth, building a modernized and strong socialist country in every sense, whose concept of development is people-centered.

Likewise, at a time when humanity is facing great dangers resulting from turmoil and political and military conflicts, there is great interest from peoples and nations in China’s role in favor of development and peace in the world.

At the opening of the APN session, the prime minister’s speech highlighted the reaffirmation that the government defends the “one China” principle. Li Keqiang stressed that the Chinese government will continue to take decisive measures to oppose “Taiwan independence” and promote reunification. “We will promote the peaceful development of relations on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, with a view to advancing the process of peaceful reunification of the motherland,” he stressed.

As can be seen, since the Two Sessions, the mobilization of the Chinese people has gained momentum to achieve the great objectives of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, outlined by the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President of the Republic, Xi Jinping. “The theme is to raise the great banner of socialism with Chinese characteristics, fully implement the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics in the New Era, carry forward the great founding spirit of the Party, remain confident and build strength, upholding the fundamental principles and breaking new ground, moving forward with initiative and courage, and striving in unity to build a modern socialist country in all respects and promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts,” said the Chinese leader in the briefing to the 20th CPC National Congress , in October last year.