News From China
Economic development and opening-up: Messages from key briefing ahead of China’s Two Sessions
A key event in China’s political calendar, the annual sessions of China’s national legislature and top political advisory body, known as the Two Sessions, is of special relevance this year. 2023 marks the first year for China to fully implement the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC).
Promoting steady economic growth and advancing opening up were highlighted by Guo Weimin, spokesperson for the first session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), at Friday’s press conference held by the National Committee of the CPPCC, the country’s top political advisory body, ahead of its annual session.
The first session of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC is scheduled to start on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and conclude on March 11 in the afternoon, lasting seven and a half days.
Promoting steady economic growth
China’s national political advisors believe that the country’s economy remains resilient and is full of potential and vigor, said Guo, adding that in 2023, top priority should be given to promoting steady economic growth and achieve “effective improvement in quality and reasonable growth in quantity”.
China’s economy expanded 3 percent last year, overcoming the impact of factors beyond expectations such as a complicated global environment, COVID-19 and natural disasters, according to Guo.
The spokesperson mentioned that China’s continued economic recovery will provide solid support in stabilizing employment.
With the optimization and adjustment of epidemic prevention policies and further implementation of various measures to stabilize the economy, the Chinese economy will continue to recover and provide solid support in stabilizing employment, he said.
China’s private economy will embrace new opportunities for development and the stage for private enterprises will be broader as the country’s economy is expected to pick up on the whole in 2023, he added.
Highlighting the significance of the digital economy in promoting the development of the national economy, Guo said that China needs to consolidate the foundation of the development of digital economy and boost the integration of digital economy and manufacturing.
The CPPCC members have made several proposals regarding the country’s economic recovery, like deepening the reform of China’s financial system and also guiding financial institutions to better serve small firms, innovation and development, said Guo.
Advancing opening up
China will take concrete measures to promote opening up and continue to provide new opportunities and drivers for global development, said Guo.
China’s faith in and its commitment to reform and opening-up will not waver, he said, adding the CPPCC has actively conducted its work around the strategic policy.
“China will take concrete measures to promote opening up and continue to provide new opportunities and drivers for global development,” he told reporters.
The spokesperson stressed that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has facilitated economic growth and improved people’s livelihood along the routes.
BRI construction has also brought effective investment and more quality assets to participant countries, he said.
Work of the CPPCC
The CPPCC is an important organization of multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC, and gives full play to the important role of a special consultative body in the country’s governance system, Guo said.
Over the past five years, the National Committee of the CPPCC made suggestions on promoting high-quality development and the formulation and implementation of the 14th Five-Year Plan, he said.
In recent years, the CPPCC National Committee has made good progress in various fields, such as establishing an evaluation system for participation in and deliberation of state affairs, establishing a long-term mechanism for democratic supervision, and improving the quality and effectiveness of proposals, he added.
Foreign news
Xi, Putin sign joint statement on deepening comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin jointly signed and released here on Tuesday the Joint Statement of the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation on Deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership of Coordination for the New Era at the Kremlin in Moscow.
In the statement, the two sides pointed out that China-Russia relations are not the kind of military-political alliance during the Cold War, but transcend such a model of state-to-state relations and have the nature of no-alliance, no-confrontation and not targeting any third party.
They said that different countries have different histories, cultures and national conditions, and they all have the right to choose their own development path. There is no such a thing as a superior “democracy.” The Russian side highly regards the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by the Chinese side.
The Russian side in the statement reaffirms its adherence to the one-China principle, recognizes Taiwan as an inalienable part of Chinese territory, opposes any form of “Taiwan independence,” and firmly supports China’s measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Both sides agree to strengthen cooperation in law enforcement such as preventing the “color revolution,” and cracking down on the “three forces” including the “East Turkistan Islamic Movement,” transnational organized crime, economic crime and drug crime.
The two, according to the statement, will build a closer partnership for energy cooperation, support enterprises of both sides in promoting energy cooperation projects such as oil and gas, coal, electricity and nuclear energy, and promote the implementation of initiatives that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including the use of low-emission energy and renewable energy.
They will also jointly safeguard international energy security including the security of key cross-border infrastructure, and maintain the stability of industry and supply chains of energy products.
Russia spoke highly of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and will continue to participate in the work of the Group of Friends of the GDI.
The two countries call on an objective, impartial and professional investigation into the explosion of the Nord Stream pipeline, said the statement, adding that they jointly oppose the attempt to politicize origin tracing of viruses.
China and Russia express serious concerns about the consequences and risks of the trilateral security partnership – AUKUS and related nuclear-powered submarine cooperation programs among the United States, Britain and Australia on regional strategic stability.
The two sides strongly urge AUKUS members to strictly fulfill their obligations of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, and safeguard regional peace, stability and development.
They also express serious concern about Japan’s plan to discharge nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant accident into the sea this year, and stressed that Japan must conduct transparent and full consultations with neighboring countries and other stakeholders and relevant international agencies.
The two sides urged Japan to properly handle the nuclear-contaminated water in a scientific, transparent and safe manner, and accept the long-term supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency and related countries, so as to effectively protect the marine environment and the rights to health of people of all countries.
Also in the statement, the two sides expressed serious concern about the biological military activities of the United States, both inside and outside the country, which seriously threaten other countries and undermine the security of relevant regions. They demand that the United States make clarification on this, and refrain from carrying out all biological activities that violate the Biological Weapons Convention.
The two sides urge NATO to abide by its commitments as a regional and defensive organization, and call on NATO to respect the sovereignty, security, interests as well as diversity of civilizations, history and culture of other countries, and treat their peaceful development in an objective and fair manner.
They also express serious concern about NATO’s continuous strengthening of military security ties with Asian-Pacific countries and undermining regional peace and stability. The two sides oppose piecing together a closed and exclusive group structure in the region, and stirring group politics and camp confrontation.
China and Russia, said the statement, express concern over the situation in the Korean Peninsula, and urge the U.S. side to respond to the legitimate and reasonable concerns of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea with practical actions and create conditions for the resumption of dialogues.
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