Special newsletter: China's Two Sessions

Special Newsletter:
China's Two Sessions

Landmark Two Sessions define direction for "New Era"

The 13th National People's Congress and 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference held their first sessions in March 2018. In this "Two Sessions", they set out a plan for the "New Era" announced by President Xi Jinping at the 19th National Party Congress last October. With stable growth targets (6.5% of GDP), emphasis is now more than ever on high quality development. China's growth will benefit the whole world - the Belt and Road will see more roads and railways bringing people and countries closer, and China's manufacturing will be completely open to overseas investors, along with other expanding key sectors. Read more.

Xi Jinping was reelected as President of the People's Republic of China. He promised to continue to serve the 1.3 billion people of China - to accept their supervision, and to not betray their trust.

Premier Li confirms China will continue to open up

China is committed to opening up to the world, emphasised Premier Li Keqiang in a press conference following the Two Sessions. "If there's anything that's going to be different from the past", he said, "it will be that China will open even wider to the world". 40 years from China's opening up, the Premier reaffirmed China's pledge to protect intellectual property rights and open up further in the services sector. Laws governing foreign investment will become more streamlined and access will be improved, while China intends to lower its tariffs even more than the international average. Read more.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlights importance of China-EU relations

"China has always appreciated the importance ... to partner with Europe to provide stability and make the world a better place", said Foreign Minister Wang Yi. He outlined China's diplomatic agenda for 2018 and emphasised the increasing importance of international relations. Read more.

Jobs, energy, steel: Government Work Report sets China's targets

Impressive feats have already been achieved - more than 68 million people have been lifted out of poverty. For 2018, China's targets include 11 million new urban jobs, a drop of at least 3% in energy consumption per unit of GDP and basic parity in personal income growth. Read more.

Ambassador to the EU stresses China's improved business environment

China's Ambassador to the EU explained in an op-ed in the EUObserver how reforms are improving the country's business environment and attractiveness to foreign investments. "Investors are voting with their feet in favour of China", wrote H.E. Zhang Ming, as confirmed by over 35,000 firms established in China in 2017 and 50% of EU companies planning to expand. Current reforms advanced at the Two Sessions are fostering equal and better market access, notably via new registration, tax and IPR rules. The 40th anniversary of China's opening-up, and its progress to a world-class, equitable and transparent business environment was marked at the China Development Forum on "engaging the world for common prosperity" on 24-26 March, where several Fortune 500 CEO's praised China's reforms. Read more.

Progress on China-EU Cooperation

China and the EU met in Beijing on March 21 to review their 2020 Strategic Cooperation Agenda. Many Chinese ministries were joined by the EU Delegation to China. The Director-General of the Foreign Ministry's European Affairs Department, Chen Xu, and EEAS Managing Director for Asia and Pacific, Gunnar Wiegand co-chaired the event Read more.

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