By Theodora Amedetor.
For 2019, China plans to create more than 11 million new urban jobs and keep urban unemployment rate within 4.5 percent. It also projects to pursue green development as a panacea to pollution, and set GDP growth target at between 6 percent and 6.5 percent. China also proposes to see consumer inflation growth at 3 percent this year. These are some key points of discussion at the second session of the 13th National People’s Congress, China’s national legislature, which opens at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, China.
The National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature, or parliament, is the highest organ of state power. It has about 3,000 members, elected from all 56 ethnic groups of China, making up the National People’s Congress. Referred to as deputies, they determine where China’s major policies are headed.
An annual event in March, sees the NPC deputies, from around the country, gather in China’s capital, Beijing, to discuss the way forward.
In attendance at the opening of the 2019’s second session of the 13th National People’s Congress, was Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, and other leaders of the communist party.
A government work report, delivered to the legislative session, by the Chinese Premier, Li Kequang, spelt out the nation’s economic growth target and development plan for 2019.
All sectors, including the economy, employment, environment, and education, with special focus on Vocational education, Elderly care sector, as well as China Opening-up were captured.
On education, while the government makes efforts to cut dropout rates of rural students and improve college and university enrollment, it will also invest 100 billion yuan ($14.9 billion) to provide vocational training for 15 million targeted attendees, to address the shortage of highly-skilled personnel.
The number of people, aged 60 and above, has hit 250 million, hence, China plans to develop the elderly care sector, especially community services.
This year, China plans to create more than 11 million new urban jobs and will also ensure employment for key groups, such as college graduates, demobilized soldiers and migrant workers.
They will also discuss a draft law on foreign investment.
Prior to the NPC meeting, China’s top political advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee opened the key political season.
The CPPCC is an important organ for the CPC-led multiparty cooperation and political consultation. It is a major channel for socialist consultative democracy and a specialist consultative body.
Its main functions are political consultation, democratic oversight and participation in and deliberation of state affairs.
The chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, Mr. Wang Yang, in a report on the work of the 13th CPPCC National Committee’s Standing Committee, said 41 percent of a total of 5,571 proposals, submitted by the CPPCC National Committee members over the past year, focused on practicing new development concepts, deepening supply-side structural reform, and promoting high-quality economic development.
According to him, the political advisors have also conducted consultations on fighting three critical battles against potential risks, poverty and pollution, as well as on promoting high-quality development.
CPPCC’s top priority in 2019, would be to study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era.
Dubbed the Two Sessions, the national political advisory body’s annual session, and the annual session of the National People’s Congress, China’s national legislature, will run almost in parallel.
In the next two weeks, more than 2,000 national political advisors and some 3,000 legislators are expected to offer proposals and insights on running state affairs, as well as rally support for securing a decisive victory in the country’s bid to build a moderately prosperous society (Xiaokang), in all respects.
