At 2 p.m. on the 4th (local time) in downtown Beijing. An hour before the opening of the Two Sessions—China's biggest annual political event, the National People's Congress of China and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference—traffic police signaled and stopped vehicles as we approached the Great Hall of the People, where the opening ceremony would be held. Following directions that we could not get any closer, we got out of the vehicle, and police immediately approached to ask our destination and demand to see our press credentials. Because vehicles were strictly controlled, we had to walk several hundred meters around the perimeter of the Great Hall of the People.
With the temperature dropping to 0 degrees that day and sleet blowing in strong winds, the usual "Two Sessions blue" was nowhere to be seen. Beijing has strictly managed air quality during the Two Sessions to maintain blue skies. For this year's sessions as well, from the 2nd, road travel by chemical transport vehicles in Beijing was banned, and some steel corporations cut production. However, as unusually heavy snow began to fall in the morning, the overcast skies continued into the afternoon.
On the roads outside the Great Hall of the People, more traffic police were deployed than pedestrians, and ID check booths were set up in many places. Security was also tight inside the Great Hall. Each member of the press was allowed to bring in only one mobile phone, and power banks were not permitted. Liquids were also banned, so only water and tea provided on-site could be consumed. Forty minutes before the opening of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), upon entering the hall, even the staff pouring tea into cups placed at each Commissioner's seat moved in neat rows and columns, as if performing military drill. A bodyguard stood watch at the most central seat, that of President Xi Jinping.
◇ Donnie Yen draws attention with his attendance… Ma Xingrui, rumored to have fallen from power, absent
At about 2:40 p.m., 288 Commissioners began taking their seats one by one. The CPPCC is a national advisory body composed of Commissioners from various sectors, including the democratic parties (minor parties), ethnic minorities, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and overseas Chinese. Hong Kong actor Donnie Yen appeared that day, and religious Commissioners in robes or wearing turbans also stood out. The proportion of women appeared higher than in other political bodies.
At 3 p.m., as the session opened, the leadership, including President Xi, entered. They were members of the Communist Party Politburo and the CPPCC presidium. Nine sat to Xi's left and 10 to his right. Previously, 23 people sat there in total. Vice Chairman He Weidong of the Central Military Commission, whose party and military status were both stripped, and Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia, who has been under investigation by authorities since the start of the year, were not seen.
Ma Xingrui, former Communist Party secretary of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, who has fueled speculation of a fall from grace after not appearing in public for months, also did not attend the opening ceremony that day. Ma was abruptly dismissed in July last year, and no new post has yet been announced. He was spotted at events in September and October last year as a Politburo member, but has since vanished from public view, prompting talk that he has lost power.
◇ "Highlight" National People's Congress of China opens tomorrow… growth target may be lowered
The Highlight of the Two Sessions is the National People's Congress of China (NPC), which opens on the 5th. The NPC is equivalent to Korea's National Assembly, and Premier Li Qiang's work report, the main point of interest, is scheduled. This year's growth target will also be announced tomorrow. On the day, the state-run Securities Times said, "Consensus is broadly forming that setting the growth target as a range of 4.5% to 5% would be a proactive yet realistic choice."
At 12 p.m. that afternoon, a pre-session press conference was held at the Great Hall of the People. According to Spokesperson Lou Qinjian, this NPC will run for a total of eight days, from the morning of the 5th to the afternoon of the 12th. During this period, there will be three press conferences and doorstep interviews on the economy, livelihoods, and diplomacy.
As China's economy also suffered from sluggish domestic demand last year, plans focused on boosting consumption are expected to be detailed at the NPC this year. Spokesperson Lou said, "This year, we will adhere to the strategic goal of expanding domestic demand and actively promote consumption to push forward the building of a strong domestic market," adding, "Under the principle of closely linking improvements in people's living standards with promoting consumption, we will boost high-quality employment and strengthen the consumption capacity of urban and rural residents."
U.S.-China relations were also mentioned at the press conference. Even as the situation in the Middle East has sharply deteriorated due to U.S. strikes on Iran, the importance of cooperation with the United States was emphasized. Spokesperson Lou said, "President Xi noted that the two countries being partners and friends is a historical lesson and a practical necessity, and that the common prosperity of China and the United States is a substantive and visible reality," adding, "China is willing to cooperate with the United States to strengthen communication through all channels and actively expand the scope of cooperation."