NEWS BRIEF 2 NATIONAL PEOPle’s CoNGRESS OF CHINA People display the national flag in Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong Special Ad- ministrative Region in south China. Li Gang ISSUE 1 · 2021 3 Safeguarding people’s health, building 10 quality basic public education stressed 目录 Contents Annual Session 2021 12 Special Report: NPC Work Report Xi stresses high-quality 6 development, improving 22 President Xi and the people people’s well-being Working for the people 8 14 New development philosophy, Senior leaders attend delibera- Law Stories of HK ethnic unity stressed tions at annual legislative session 10 16 24 Safeguarding people’s health, People as masters of their country An imperative step for long-term stability building quality basic public is essence of democracy in Hong Kong education stressed 26 Decision to improve Hong Kong elector- al system adopted 28 Explanations on the Draft Decision of the National People’s Congress On Improv- ing the Electoral System of The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region 4 NATIONAL PEOPle’s CoNGRESS OF CHINA An imperative step for long-term 24 stability in Hong Kong China unveils action plan for 36 modernization ISSUE 1 · 2021 Spotlight Insights 34 China projects confidence with over 6% 42 Xi’s messages point way for China at VOL.52 ISSUE 1 March 2021 GDP growth target historic development juncture Administrated by General Office of the Standing NPC Highlights Committee of National People’s Congress 44 NPC Standing Committee strongly Chief Editor: Wang Yang condemns US sanctions on Chinese 36 General Editorial China unveils action plan for modern- officials over HK electoral reform Office Address: 23 Xijiaominxiang, ization Xicheng District, Beijing 45 100805, P.R.China 38 China’s historic poverty campaign Tel: (86-10)5560-4181 champions human rights (86-10)6309-8540 A look at China’s democracy, rule of E-mail: [email protected] law at “two sessions” ISSN 1674-3008 CN 11-5683/D COVER: China’s national flags and flags of Deputies the Hong Kong Special Administrative Re- Price: RMB 35 gion (HKSAR) on a street in south China’s Edited by The People’s Congresses Journal Hong Kong. Li Gang Published by The People’s Congresses Journal 40 Printed by Beijing Zhong Ke Printing Co., Ltd. in China Voices of NPC deputies ISSUE 1 · 2021 5 ANNUAL SESSION 2021 President Xi and the people 6 NATIONAL PEOPle’s CoNGRESS OF CHINA The Fourth Session of the 13th National People’s Congress opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 5. Ding Lin ISSUE 1 · 2021 7 ANNUAL SESSION 2021 President Xi Jinping, also general sec- retary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, takes part in deliberations with his fellow deputies from the delegation of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at the Fourth Ses- sion of the 13th National People’s Con- gress in Beijing on March 5. Ju Peng New development philosophy, ethnic unity stressed resident Xi Jinping on March 5 stressed full and al secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central faithful comprehension and implementation of the Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commis- new development philosophy when joining a delib- sion, called on the region to serve and integrate into the eration during the annual session of the National country’s new development paradigm. PPeople’s Congress, the top legislature. Urging Inner Mongolia to cherish and uphold its fine Joining discussions with fellow lawmakers from North tradition of ethnic unity, Xi stressed cementing the sense of China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Xi, also gener- community for the Chinese nation. 8 NATIONAL PEOPle’s CoNGRESS OF CHINA Xi, an NPC deputy himself, exchanged views with other deputies on a wide range of topics including modern agricul- Efforts should be made to step ture and rural vitalization. Xi called for efforts to build Inner Mongolia into a nation- up green transformation of key al base for key energy and strategic resources, a production industries and areas, foster cleaner base for agriculture and animal husbandry, and a gateway for northward opening up. production and accelerate green Xi said Inner Mongolia should find its role in the country’s establishment of the new development paradigm of “dual and low-carbon development. circulation,” in which the domestic and overseas markets re- inforce each other, with the domestic market as the mainstay. He urged efforts to promote the smart and green develop- ment of related sectors toward the higher end. Xi called on the region to continuously enhance sci-tech erate green and low-carbon development, he said. capabilities, deepen reform and opening up, improve its busi- As the first ethnic minority autonomous region in China, ness environment and actively participate in the joint build- Inner Mongolia should make solid and meticulous efforts in ing of the Belt and Road. promoting ethnic unity, Xi said. Congratulating Inner Mongolia on accomplishing the pov- He also called for promoting standard spoken and written erty elimination target as scheduled, Xi said there are still Chinese language and the use of state-compiled textbooks. arduous tasks ahead in the pursuit of common prosperity, Efforts should be made to facilitate more comprehen- adding that resolute efforts must be made to prevent any sive understanding of the Party’s policies concerning ethnic large-scale relapse into poverty. groups, especially among young people, Xi said. Xi also underlined the development of distinctive indus- Xi highlighted a Party-wide campaign on CPC history tries with competitive edges and appropriately scaled agricul- learning and education, urging Inner Mongolia to make good tural and animal husbandry operations as part of efforts to use of its rich revolutionary legacy in the campaign. increase the incomes of farmers and herdsmen. Party members of the region should continuously improve Efforts should be made to step up green transformation of themselves both in their thinking and work on major issues key industries and areas, foster cleaner production and accel- such as ethnic unity, he said.(Xinhua) President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, takes part in deliberations with his fellow deputies from the delegation of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region at the Fourth Session of the 13th Nation- al People’s Congress in Beijing on March 5. Li Xueren ISSUE 1 · 2021 9 ANNUAL SESSION 2021 Safeguarding people’s health, building quality basic public education stressed resident Xi Jinping on March 6 stressed giving The meeting was held during the fourth session of the “strategic priority” to safeguarding people’s health 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political and building a high-quality and balanced basic Consultative Conference, the top political advisory body. public education service system. Xi called for focusing on tackling major diseases and PXi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of Chi- problems that affect people’s health. na Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military The country’s public health protection network should Commission, made the remarks when he joined national be fortified and efforts should be made to promote the political advisors from education, medical and health sec- high-quality development of public hospitals, he said, de- tors in a joint group meeting. manding comprehensive health care for the people at all 10 NATIONAL PEOPle’s CoNGRESS OF CHINA He urged efforts to strengthen the capabilities for initial monitoring and early warning, rapid testing, emergency response and comprehensive treatment. monitoring and early warning, rapid testing, emergency re- sponse and comprehensive treatment. Stressing the “main force” role of public hospitals in fighting COVID-19, Xi called for strengthening construction of public medical and health institutions. Health infrastructure at the grassroots level should be improved and support policies for rural doctors should be implemented in an effort to enhance the grassroots capac- ity of disease prevention and treatment, he said, calling for efforts to deepen the reform of the medical and healthcare system. Xi also urged the preservation and development of tra- ditional Chinese medicine and breakthroughs in core tech- nologies in key areas, as well as more protection, care and support for health workers. On education, Xi said China must strive to build a high-quality and balanced basic public education service system. He emphasized the socialist orientation in running schools, the non-profit nature of education and developing education that people are satisfied with. Education is essential to the country and the Party, Xi stressed. To build a high-quality education system, the reform of the evaluation system should be in the lead, so as to push forward reforms in other aspects of education, said Xi. He called for efforts to train more talents who can con- President Xi Jinping, also general secretary tribute to the country’s high-quality development and of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central high-level self-reliance. Military Commission, meets with national Teachers are the central pillar of education, and political advisors from the education, med- strengthening the professional ethics of teachers must be a ical and health sectors, and attends a joint group meeting at the Fourth Session of the top priority, Xi said. 13th National Committee of the Chinese He praised education workers for their contributions to People’s Political Consultative Conference fighting the epidemic. He also demanded more support for in Beijing on March 6. Huang Jingwen teachers in rural areas. Ahead of the International Women’s Day, which falls on March 8, Xi extended festive greetings and best wishes to the country’s women of all ethnic groups and from all walks of life.