China’s top legislative body, the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), wrapped up its annual session on Tuesday. The closing meeting, held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, was attended by President Xi Jinping and other national leaders.
The NPC is a significant political gathering where lawmakers from across the country come together to discuss and set national policies. During this session, they approved important reports and plans that will shape China’s direction in the coming years.
Li Hongzhong, who presided over the meeting, announced that lawmakers had approved the government work report and reports from key judicial bodies. They also adopted amendments to laws relating to deputies of the congress and approved plans focusing on China’s economic and social development for 2024 and 2025.
In his address, Li highlighted that this year is crucial as it marks the final stretch of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), a roadmap guiding the nation’s development goals. He emphasized the importance of staying committed to progress while ensuring stability, aiming to achieve the plan’s objectives with high quality and setting the stage for the next Five-Year Plan (2026-2030).
Li urged lawmakers to embrace a people-centered approach and to promote “whole-process people’s democracy,” a concept emphasizing public participation in governance. “Unity is strength; struggle creates history; hard work makes a bright future,” he said, encouraging everyone to stay united and work hard to build a prosperous nation and advance national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.
