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Xi Jinping’s hi-tech push steals the spotlight at China’s ‘two sessions’ as Li Qiang scales back presence
- Chinese president’s call to develop home-grown technology is top policy direction to come out of this year’s parliamentary sessions
- Meanwhile, Premier Li Qiang appears to be taking a smaller role at political gathering in what is seen as sign of loyalty and humbleness
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With the premier’s presence scaled down, China’s biggest political gathering of the year is focused on President Xi Jinping’s push for home-grown technology.
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Xi spoke at length about promoting “new quality productive forces” – a reference to Beijing’s ambitious plan to upgrade the economy with domestic technology – during panel discussions with the delegation from Jiangsu province at the annual session of the National People’s Congress (NPC) on Tuesday.
The next day, Xi joined a panel discussion with representatives from the science and technology sector at the annual session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country’s top political advisory body, and urged Chinese scientists to “fight the battle well”.
He then took part in a discussion with the NPC delegation of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the People’s Armed Police Force on Thursday. Xi, who is also China’s top military commander, called on the military representatives to integrate hi-tech development with the PLA’s war capacity to “comprehensively enhance strategic capabilities in emerging areas”.
Xi’s instructions during the annual parliamentary meetings, known as the “two sessions”, appeared on the front page of all mainland newspapers and was the lead story on national prime time television news for days.
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