China-NPC Opening

Beijing, China – March 5, 2024 (CCTV – No access Chinese mainland)
1. Great Hall of the People exterior, Chinese national emblem
2. Opening meeting of second session of 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) in progress, attendees applauding
3. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of Central Military Commission, and other Chinese leaders walking to take seats
4. Attendees applauding
5. Session in progress
6. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhao Leji, chairman, NPC Standing Committee:
“Now I declare the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China open!”
7. Attendees applauding, standing up
8. Military band playing Chinese national anthem
9. Xi, other leaders and attendees singing national anthem
10. Attendees taking seats
11. Session in progress
12. Various of Chinese Premier Li Qiang walking to podium, bowing
13. Attendees applauding
14. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Li Qiang, Chinese Premier (starting with shot 13):
“Fellow deputies, on behalf of the State Council, I will now report to you on the work of the government for your deliberation and also for comments from members of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). First, the review of the work in 2023. 2023 was the first year for fully implementing the guiding principles from the 20th CPC National Congress. It was also this government’s first year to perform its duties in accordance with the law. In the face of an unusually complex international environment and the challenging tasks of advancing reform and development and ensuring stability at home, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core brought together the Chinese people of all ethnic groups and led them in withstanding external pressures and overcoming internal difficulties with dedicated efforts. We secured a smooth transition in COVID-19 epidemic response. The main goals and tasks for economic and social development in 2023 were accomplished, and we made steady progress in pursuing high-quality development, maintained overall social stability, and made solid advances in building a modern socialist country in all respects.”
15. Session in progress

Storyline

The 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s highest organ of state power, opened its second session on Tuesday morning at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other Chinese leaders were among the 2,872 NPC deputies present at the opening meeting.

Premier Li Qiang delivered a government work report on behalf of the State Council for deliberation.

“2023 was the first year for fully implementing the guiding principles from the 20th CPC National Congress. It was also this government’s first year to perform its duties in accordance with the law. In the face of an unusually complex international environment and the challenging tasks of advancing reform and development and ensuring stability at home, the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core brought together the Chinese people of all ethnic groups and led them in withstanding external pressures and overcoming internal difficulties with dedicated efforts. We secured a smooth transition in COVID-19 epidemic response. The main goals and tasks for economic and social development in 2023 were accomplished, and we made steady progress in pursuing high-quality development, maintained overall social stability, and made solid advances in building a modern socialist country in all respects,” Li said, reviewing the work in the past year.

During the seven-day session, NPC deputies will deliberate the report on the work of the government, review the report on the implementation of the 2023 plan for national economic and social development and on the 2024 draft plan, the draft plan for national economic and social development in 2024, the report on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2023 and on the draft central and local budgets for 2024, as well as the draft central and local budgets for 2024.

They will also deliberate the bill put forward by the NPC Standing Committee on reviewing the draft revision to the Organic Law of the State Council, the work reports of the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate.