THE upcoming annual sessions of China’s top legislature and political advisory body will offer the world a window to observe the country’s development and understand its policy direction for the following year. The second session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) and the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) will open tomorrow and today, respectively. Economic goals At the “two sessions” each year, the annual economic development goals of the world’s second-largest economy are among the most anticipated announcements. The development goals for 2024 are expected to be unveiled in the government work report, which usually includes the country’s targets on gross domestic product (GDP) growth, inflation, the ratio of deficit to GDP, employment, and foreign trade and investment, among others. China’s provincial-level regions recently unveiled their growth targets for 2024 in government work reports delivered to local people’s congresses. Their 2024 GDP growth targets vary from 4.5% to 8%. New growth drivers “New productive forces,” an emerging catchphrase in China’s policymaking, is expected to be a hot topic garnering much attention. The concept refers to a new form of productive forces derived from continuous sci-tech breakthroughs and innovation that drive strategic emerging industries and future industries in a more intelligent information era. The Central Economic Work Conference, held late last year to chart economic development in 2024, said China would “promote industrial innovation through technological innovation... to foster new industries, new models and growth drivers, and develop new productive forces.” High-level opening up China’s attitude and plans concerning its opening up are among the most closely watched in the world. At the Central Economic Work Conference, China pledged to expand high-level opening up and reinforce the stable performance of foreign trade and foreign investment. A series of recent policy measures sent a clear signal that China is firmly committed to expanding opening up. For example, the country announced that it will remove all restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector, and five new measures are already facilitating the entry of foreign nationals into China for business, education and tourism. Zhang Junkuo, a national political advisor and former deputy director of the Development Research Center of the State Council, said amid rising anti-globalization sentiment and intensifying geopolitical tension, “it is particularly important for China to respond to uncertainties in the external environment with its certainty in opening up.” Reforms in key areas Advancing reforms in key areas and crucial sectors will also be a focus of attention for national lawmakers and political advisors. Accelerating the building of a unified national market is a concern of Jin Li, a national political advisor and vice president of Southern University of Science and Technology. “It’s important to break down local protectionism and market segmentation,” Jin said, calling for accelerating the establishment of unified market institutions and rules in such terms as property rights protection, market access and fair competition. Many are also concerned about further boosting the confidence of private enterprises. Gao Zicheng, NPC deputy and president of the All China Lawyers Association, said it was necessary to further optimize the development environment and stimulate internal driving forces and the innovation vitality of private enterprises.(Xinhua) | 