Second session of the 14th National People's Congress

The second session of the 14th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China (PRC) was held from 5 March to 11 March 2024, concurrently with the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) as part of the annual Two Sessions. The 14th National People's Congress was held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The event was held largely without COVID restrictions for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. On 4 March, the NPC spokesperson Lou Qinjian said Premier Li Qiang won't hold the annual press conferences for the remaining term of China's parliament, which ends in 2027, ending a tradition maintained for three decades.

The session

In his maiden government work report on 5 March, Premier Li Qiang spent considerable time discussing how to help struggling private players as well as ease the concerns of foreign businesses. He promised the government would settle overdue payments owed to private businesses. The report mentioned that the government would want to make it easier for migrant workers to be able to change their hukous to urban ones, a subject has long been discussed. It also mentioned that China will improve birth policy to support a growing elderly population by raising benefits and basic pensions and pushing forward a private pension system. Li said Hong Kong should continue implementing the governing principles of "One country, two systems" and "patriotic administration", and added that Beijing would support Hong Kong in developing its economy and improving residents' livelihood. He attributed a litany of achievements in 2023 to Xi, and called for officials to rally more closely around the Chinese Communist Party with Xi Jinping at its core. Li rattled off the report in 50 minutes, the shortest time since 2001. Xinhua News Agency summarized the highlights of the report, including: 2024 GDP growth target: around 5 percent Creating over 12 million jobs in urban areas Ratio of deficit to GDP: 3 percent Special-purpose bonds for local governments: 3.9 trillion yuan Issuing ultra-long special treasury bonds Launching AI Plus initiative Enhancing disruptive and frontier technology research Launching year-long program to stimulate consumption Investment from central government budget: 700 billion yuan Expanding domestic demand Ensuring national treatment for foreign-funded enterprises Working toward joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Pursuing higher-standard opening up Defusing risks in property, local debt, small and medium-sized financial institutions Ensuring both development and security Advancing energy revolution Opposing "Taiwan independence" and external interference Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng attended separately deliberations at the second session of the 14th NPC on later that day, 6 March and 7 March. On 7 March, the delegation of deputies from Xinjiang in a group meeting denied persecution of Uyghurs and pledged to continuous opening-up.

On 8 March, the NPC deputies held group meetings to review the work report of the NPCSC. Zhao Leji delivered the report at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th NPC. The report pledged to enact legislation including an emergency management law and atomic energy law, and will revise laws on national defence education and cybersecurity.

Voting results

Resolutions +TopicForAgainstAbstainRatePremier Li Qiang's Government Work Report2,8952399.83%Amendment to the Organic Law of the State Council2,8838999.41%Report on the Implementation of the 2023 National Economic and Social Development Plan and the 2024 Draft Plan2,879101199.28%Report on the Execution of the Central and Local Budgets for 2023 and on the Draft Central and Local Budgets for 20242,876131199.17%Chairman Zhao Leji's NPCSC Work Report2,8887599.58%Chief Justice Zhang Jun's Supreme People's Court Work Report2,83442297.72%Procurator-General Ying Yong's Supreme People's Procuratorate Work Report2,86427998.76%

Economic targets and budget The following economic targets were set by the government work report submitted to the NPC: +2024 targetResultGDP growth~5%5%CPI~3%0.2%New urban jobs12 million12.56 millionDeficit-to-GDP ratio3% The NPC session also adopted the following central government budget:

Government budget In trillions of renminbi: +Planned% changeActualCentral general public budget revenue10.2432.910.045Central general public budget expenditure14.406214.112Central government expenditure4.1528.64.072Transfer to local governments10.2034.110.040Local general public budget revenue12.1533.711.927Local general public budget expenditure24.347324.389National general public budget revenue22.3953.321.970National general public budget expenditure28.549428.461

Central public budget expenditure In billions of renminbi: +Planned% changeGeneral public services158.64.5Diplomacy60.86.6National defense1,665.57.2Public security227.71.4Education164.95Science and technology370.810Culture, tourism, sports and media19.010Social security and employment117.511.6Health33.011.3Energy conservation and environmental protection20.97.1Urban and rural communities0.430.7Agriculture, forestry and water27.36.5Transportation84.89.6Resource exploration and industrial information44.811.1Commercial services4.239.9Financial60.515.4Natural resources, oceanography and meteorology28.2–1.4Housing security62.30.2Stockpiling grain, edible oils, and other materials140.68.1Debt interest payments777.311.9Total4,152.08.6 Source:

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