"Two sessions" muster consensus, strength for China's modernization drive

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers a speech at the closing meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 13, 2023. [Xinhua/Yan Yan] 

♦  From common prosperity to high-quality development, the vision of the Communist Party of China and the will of the people converge at the Great Hall of the People on the action plan for modernization.

♦ An array of development tasks for 2023 were mapped out in a government work report that was submitted to the national legislature for deliberation, focusing on steady and quality growth for the Chinese economy.

♦ High-quality development is deemed as the "first and foremost" task in China's modernization bid, which entails development that is innovative, coordinated, green, open and for everyone.

For any China observer, the "two sessions" provide a chance not to be missed to get a glimpse of how its grand blueprint for modernization turns into policies and actions. With development and reform priorities reviewed and discussed by over 5,000 national lawmakers and political advisors ranging from farmers to state leaders, the annual meetings of China's top legislature and political advisory body serve to build up consensus and pool strength for the country's modernization drive. An all-important political event, this year's "two sessions" took place after the 20^th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) last October, which has laid out major policies and strategic plans for building a modern socialist country in all respects. From common prosperity to high-quality development, the vision of the CPC and the will of the people converge at the Great Hall of the People on the action plan for modernization.

PROSPERITY FOR ALL

An array of development tasks for 2023 were mapped out in a government work report that was submitted to the national legislature for deliberation, focusing on steady and quality growth for the Chinese economy. The report unveiled a target for the Chinese economy to expand by around 5 percent this year, faster than the 3-percent growth recorded in 2022. Other objectives include creating around 12 million urban jobs, consumer price index increasing around 3 percent, and personal income rising generally in step with economic growth. The national legislature on Friday approved a plan for reforming the institutions of the State Council, which focuses on optimizing and adjusting the responsibilities of institutions to enhance the capacity and efficiency of governance. While these moves will all make a difference in advancing China's modernization, the most challenging tasks remain in rural areas, which are generally less developed than the cities.

China should foster rural industries with local features to create more channels for increasing rural incomes and consolidate and expand the achievements in poverty alleviation to prevent large-scale relapse into poverty, according to the government work report. Chinese modernization is the modernization of common prosperity for all, said President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, when participating in a joint group meeting of national political advisors on Monday.

QUALITY DEVELOPMENT

High-quality development is deemed as the "first and foremost" task in China's modernization bid, which entails development that is innovative, coordinated, green, open and for everyone. China has placed innovation at the heart of its modernization drive. One eye-catching move in the country's reform of State Council institutions is to restructure its Ministry of Science and Technology to better allocate resources to overcome challenges in key and core technologies. The reform also includes setting up a national data bureau to coordinate the integration, sharing, development and application of data resources, a key asset in a modern economy. Building self-reliance and strength in science and technology is key to building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects within the set time frame, Xi said when attending a deliberation with lawmakers from Jiangsu Province during the "two sessions." In its pursuit of high-quality development, China is trailblazing a new path of seeking harmony between humanity and nature. To embrace green development, China's top political advisory body set up a new sector on the environment and resources this year to pool wisdom for the country's transition to a more eco-friendly and sustainable path.

Xi has urged solidarity in the face of profound and complex changes in both international and domestic landscapes, noting that it is the source of strength. "Only when all the people work together with one heart and one mind, unite as one, and have the courage and ability to carry out our fight, will we continue to win new and greater victories," said Xi.

Edited by Wang Miao 

with reference to <https://english.news.cn/20230313/13dc9542692d45c8a42fef5f69386d9e/c.html>