Editorial | One challenging year awaits China’s ‘two sessions’

Name: Ukrainians recount destruction in Borodyanka after Russian shelling
Uploaded: 2022-03-03T20:56:47.000Z
Duration: 2 min 29 s
Description: Ukrainians recount destruction in Borodyanka after Russian shelling

The agenda for this year’s meetings of China’s political and legislative bodies will reflect extraordinary times, from Russia’s war in Ukraine to planning economic recovery and dealing with an ageing society

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The closing session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) is seen in the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, in March 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE

SCMP Editorial

Published: 4:56am, 4 Mar 2022

Even without the drama of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, this year’s “two sessions”, or annual meetings of China’s political advisory and legislative bodies, would have reflected extraordinary times.

Covid-19 would have ensured that, after delaying the 2020 meetings by two months and shaping the economic agenda for last year’s meetings.

Maintaining growth in the economy remains the abiding concern. But two things set this year’s two sessions beginning today apart.

One is that they set the tone for the 20th party congress in the autumn and a major shake-up of the top leadership. The other is the attack launched by Russia on Ukraine, both diplomatic partners.

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Ukrainians recount destruction in Borodyanka after Russian shelling

The latter event will overshadow the meetings of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the National People’s Congress. Beijing may have taken a very neutral stance, but in China the issue is widely debated.