China vows to 'resolutely' oppose Taiwan 'independence'

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - China on Tuesday vowed to "resolutely" oppose Taiwan "independence," as Premier Li Qiang delivered his maiden government report to the second session of the country's national legislature.

Ensuring both development and security, Li stressed, Beijing will "resolutely" oppose "Taiwan independence" and “external interference” while upholding international fairness and justice.

“Stability is the basis for everything we do," Li told nearly 3,000 deputies of the National People's Congress (NPC), urging localities and government departments to adopt more policies conducive to keeping expectations, economic growth and employment stable.

Li said the country’s armed forces “will strengthen all-around military training and combat readiness, make well-coordinated efforts to improve military preparedness ... so as to firmly safeguard China’s national sovereignty, security, and development interests.”

"We will implement our (Communist) Party’s overall policy for the new era on resolving the Taiwan question, stay committed to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus," Li said, adding Beijing "will promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations" and will be "firm in advancing the cause of China’s reunification."

He added China’s military budget would increase by 7.2% to 1.66 trillion yuan ($231.4 billion).

As the world's second-largest $18 trillion economy faces headwinds, Li set a target of “around 5%” gross domestic product growth (GDP) for this year.

President Xi Jinping and other Chinese leaders also attended the opening meeting of the NPC at the Great Hall of the People in the capital Beijing.

The Chinese government has “taken into account the need to boost employment and incomes besides preventing and defusing risks” including in property, local debt, and small and medium-sized financial institutions, Li said in the report.

The world's second-largest economy last year saw growth of 5.2%, matching the official target of around 5%.

With an urban unemployment rate of around 5.5%, Xi’s government seeks to create over 12 million jobs in urban areas this year, according to the government report.

With a focus on high-quality development, Li said the government will launch the “AI Plus initiative” besides enhancing disruptive and frontier technology research.

He said the government will ensure “national treatment for foreign-funded enterprises” while working toward joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Tens of hundreds of China’s political elite, including lawmakers, officials and advisers, have gathered in the capital Beijing for the annual Two Sessions.

More than 2,000 members of the 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) held their second session at the Great Hall of the People on Monday.

The NPC has announced that Li will not meet the press after the session concludes on March 11.