China’s largest political gathering, Two Sessions, begins in Beijing

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – Tens of hundreds of China’s political elite, including lawmakers, officials and advisors, gathered in the capital Beijing for the annual Two Sessions, state media reported.

More than 2,000 members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) gathered at the Great Hall of the People for the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee.

CPPCC is China’s top political advisory body headed by Wang Huning, who delivered a work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee.

President Xi Jinping attended the opening meeting of the session.

On Tuesday, nearly 3,000 members of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) will convene for the second such session since its inaugural in October 2022.

Premier Li Qiang will deliver a government report and will set new targets, including in the economy which has seen headwinds over the past few years.

In a path-breaking precedent, the NPC has announced that Li will not meet the press after the session concludes on March 11.

It is the first time since 1988 when then-Premier Li Peng set the tradition of news conferences after the Two Sessions concluded.

The NPC declared: “And unless under special circumstance, there will be no press conferences held by the premier in the following years of the 14th NPC.”

Instead, relevant officials of China’s State Council will address the media on domestic and foreign issues.

The Two Sessions of the 14th CPPCC and 14th NPC will conclude on March 11.