China’s ‘two sessions’: CPPCC chief presses need to hold Communist Party line
- Wang Yang urges members to get behind patriot push in Hong Kong and stops short of mentioning ‘one country, two systems’
- Coronavirus containment and economic recovery among last year’s achievements, he says
At the opening of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, CPPCC chairman Wang Yang said the country could claim a number of achievements over the past year, including containing the coronavirus, maintaining an economic recovery and eradicating poverty.
The address – the reading of the CPPCC’s annual work report – raised the curtain on one of the most important political events for the country.
In his speech, Wang called on the 2,100 members assembled in the Great Hall of the People to support the party, saying it had been the nation’s “backbone” through the turbulence of the past and would be so again as China went through uncharted waters to further development.
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The annual gatherings of the CPPCC and the National People’s Congress, the top legislature, have been compressed into eight days this year, down from the usual two weeks, amid strict coronavirus prevention measures.
Only a small number of diplomats and journalists are allowed to attend the conference.
The vice-chairmen of the CPPCC were also there, including Leung Chun-ying, former chief executive of Hong Kong.
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While Wang’s delivery of the annual work report was largely symbolic, it underscored the importance the advisory body is giving to toeing the party line this year.
Wang called on members to support the central government’s drive to ensure that Hong Kong is governed by patriots. But, with Beijing overhauling Hong Kong’s electoral system after political unrest in recent years, he stopped short of mentioning “one country, two systems”, the governing formula that grants Hong Kong a degree of autonomy.
The work report also highlighted the need to cement support for the next five-year plan and offer advice on issues ranging from national security and rural revitalisation, to how to manage the ageing population, and improve the public health system.
Other items on the agenda are job creation for members of ethnic minority groups and carbon neutrality.
“In-depth consultation will be held on major issues such as intensifying defences for national security, and ethnic and religious policies,” Wang said.
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China has largely brought the pandemic under control and was the only major economy in the world to record economic growth last year.
But it is also under increasing criticism over its tough policy in Hong Kong and accusations of widespread human rights abuses in the far western region of Xinjiang.
The country’s rivalry with the United States is also set to continue with the administration of US President Joe Biden trying to rally support among its allies in Europe and Asia to counter China’s rise.
He also said the CPPCC and its members had been vocal in its criticism of US anti-China legislation related to the pandemic, as well as Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong.
The CPPCC chairman made only a brief reference to Taiwan in his report although the advisory body traditionally plays a role in promoting exchanges with the island.
