Source: CCTV News.
Today (March 4th), a press conference for the third session of the 14th National People's Congress was held at the Great Hall of the People, where the conference spokesperson, Lou Qinjian, answered questions from Chinese and foreign reporters regarding the agenda of the conference and issues related to the work of the National People's Congress.
What key points were covered in the 90 minutes? Let's review together!
The third session of the 14th National People's Congress will last for 7 days, with a total of 7 agenda items.
Liu Qinjian introduced that the third session of the 14th National People's Congress will open on the morning of March 5 and close on the afternoon of March 11, lasting for 7 days, with 3 plenary meetings scheduled. There are actually 2929 representatives in the 14th National People's Congress, and 2893 representatives have reported to the conference. All preparations for the conference have been completed.
The conference agenda consists of 7 items:
Liu Qinjian introduced that during the meeting, 3 press conferences will be held, where the main responsible comrades from relevant departments of the State Council will answer questions from reporters about foreign affairs, the economy, and people's livelihoods. Before each plenary meeting, a 'representative channel' will be arranged to introduce the performance of duties and reflect the voices of the representatives. After the plenary meetings, a 'ministerial channel' will be arranged to interpret policy measures and respond to social concerns.
Uphold and improve the operation of the People's Congress system.
Liao Qinquan stated in response to a question from a reporter at the Central Broadcasting - TV Station that in the new era and on the new journey, it is crucial to accurately identify the positioning and tasks of the People's Congress in promoting Chinese-style modernization, closely aligning with the overall party and national work, and fulfilling responsibilities.
First, fully utilize the important role of the People's Congress in ensuring the comprehensive and effective implementation of the Constitution and laws.
Second, fully exert the leading role of the People's Congress in legislative work.
Third, fully showcase the important role of the People's Congress's supervision in the party and national supervision system.
Fourth, fully highlight the leading role of the People's Congress in maintaining close ties with the people.
The People's Congress will focus on developing a people-centered democracy throughout the process, adhering to, improving, and running the people's representative conference system, providing solid institutional guarantees for achieving the party and people's goals in the new era and on the new journey.
The legislative work in 2024 has made new progress and achievements.
Liao Qinquan introduced that since the second session of the 14th National People's Congress, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress has fully exerted the leading role of the People's Congress in legislative work, striving to promote the advancement and perfection of the socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics. Over the past year, 39 legal proposals were reviewed, of which 24 were passed, including the enactment of 6 laws, amendments to 14 laws, and decisions on 4 significant legal issues and major matters.
Liu Qinjian discussed that last year's legislative achievements are mainly reflected in the following aspects:
Firstly, serving the acceleration of the development of new productive forces.
Secondly, ensuring the people's aspiration for a better life.
Thirdly, improving legal systems related to National Institutions.
Fourthly, supporting the expansion of high-level opening up.
In the next step, the National People's Congress will adhere to the unity of reform and the rule of law, continuously improving the legal system of socialism with Chinese characteristics, and ensure and serve the high-quality development of the economy and society through high-quality legislation.
The representative law amendment draft implements the significant concept of whole-process people's democracy.
Liu Qinjian introduced that the representative law amendment draft submitted for review at this conference implements the significant concept of whole-process people's democracy, further expands and deepens the "two connections" system mechanisms, and supports and guarantees representatives to serve as a bridge between the Party and the people.
Promote the rapid enactment of the Private Economy Promotion Law.
Liu Qinjian introduced that last December, the draft law on promoting the private economy was submitted by the State Council for its first review by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress; it was reviewed again last month. For the first time, the draft law incorporates the insistence on "two unwavering principles" and the promotion of "two healthy developments" into legal standards, elevating the Party Central Committee's major guidelines and policy measures on promoting the development of the private economy to a legal standard. This has significant and far-reaching implications for ensuring that various ownership economies can equally use production factors legally, participate fairly in market competition, and receive equal legal protection. The next step will be to work seriously on revising and improving the draft based on the continued review by the Standing Committee and various opinions and suggestions, to promote the legal enactment as soon as possible.
In 2024, the domestic gross domestic product surpassed 130 trillion yuan for the first time, achieving a growth of 5%.
Liu Qinjian explained in response to inquiries about the Chinese economy that on September 26 last year, the Central Political Bureau meeting decisively deployed a package of incremental policies, effectively boosting social confidence and leading to a significant economic recovery. The annual domestic gross domestic product surpassed 130 trillion yuan for the first time, achieving a growth of 5%, marking a new and solid step forward in Chinese-style modernization.
Liu Qinjian stated that the adverse effects brought about by the current external environment are deepening, and the economic operation still faces many difficulties and challenges. From the international perspective, the world's economic and political uncertainties are rising, and the difficulties in stabilizing external demand are increasing; from the domestic perspective, domestic demand is insufficient, and some enterprises are facing operational difficulties. However, we must also recognize the stability, advantages, resilience, and great potential of the Chinese economy. The supportive conditions and basic trend for long-term positive development have not changed. The Chinese economy has always grown through trials and tribulations, and it has strengthened through testing, and we are full of confidence in the prospects of the Chinese economy.
Kudos to DeepSeek! A spokesperson from the National People's Congress responded to the rise of Chinese AI companies.
In response to questions related to the development of AI, Liu Qinjian stated that the significant progress made by DeepSeek represents the rise of a number of Chinese companies in the field of AI. The main creative team, composed of young and middle-aged individuals, is shouldering the progress of China's Technology sector, which is commendable. DeepSeek adheres to an open-source technological route, promotes open sharing, and has facilitated the widespread application of AI technology globally, contributing Chinese wisdom to the world. Through the rise of companies like DeepSeek, we can see the innovation and inclusiveness of China in technological development.
Opposing the generalization of the National Security Concept and avoiding technology innovation becoming a game for the wealthy and the rich.
Liu Qinjian introduced that AI significantly enhances humanity's ability to understand and transform the world, serving as an important driving force for a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation, which will inevitably impact production relations. It is undeniable that the development of AI technology has been accompanied by a series of unpredictable risks and challenges, bringing numerous new issues in areas such as security, social governance, and ethics. The Chinese government attaches great importance to the development of AI technology and risk prevention.
China legally protects data privacy and security while opposing the generalization of the concept of National Security and the politicization of economic and technological issues. China has proposed the "Global AI Governance Initiative" to bridge the technology gap and avoid technology innovation becoming a game for wealthy countries and individuals. China is willing to work with countries around the world to continue promoting the healthy development of AI, fostering global economic growth, and enhancing the well-being of people across nations.
Hong Kong and Macau have always been important windows for China's opening-up, serving an irreplaceable role.
Liu Qinjian stated that building the South China Greater Bay Area Concept is a major national strategy. The central government has introduced a series of policy measures to fully support Hong Kong and Macau's participation in the construction of the South China Greater Bay Area Concept. Hong Kong and Macau have always been important windows for China's opening-up, holding a unique position and making significant contributions over more than 40 years of reform and opening up; their role is irreplaceable. The infrastructure hard connectivity of the Bay Area, rule mechanism soft connectivity, and the emotional connection among residents of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macau are continuously improving.
Liu Qinjian expressed that the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress is actively promoting the development of the South China Greater Bay Area Concept. This year, special research will be conducted to promote the construction of the Bay Area by effectively combining the foundation of "one country", the advantages of "two systems", and the strengths of the three regions.
The essence of China-U.S. economic and trade relations is mutual benefit and win-win.
In response to questions related to China-US relations, Liu Qinjian stated that the essence of China-US economic and trade relations is mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. Over the 46 years since diplomatic relations were established, China-US trade has increased more than 200 times, with mutual investment stock at about 250 billion US dollars, bringing tangible benefits to both peoples and strongly promoting global economic development. The unilateral imposition of tariffs by the US side violates WTO rules and disrupts the safety and stability of the global industry chain and supply chain. There is hope that the US side and the Chinese side can take mutual steps to find solutions to the issues through equal consultation.
Liu Qinjian said that history shows that cooperation between China and the US leads to mutual benefits, while conflict harms both sides. A stable, healthy, and sustainable China-US relationship aligns with the interests of both nations and the expectations of the international community. Given the differing national conditions, there will inevitably be some disagreements between China and the US. The key is to respect each other's core interests and major concerns and to find proper solutions to the problems. We are willing to negotiate with the US side through mutual respect, equal treatment, and reciprocity to resolve each other's concerns, but we will never accept pressure and threats, and will firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests. There is a hope that the US side will work together with the Chinese side to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and return to the path of resolving issues through dialogue and consultation.
Two 'no's and three 'don'ts' summarize China-Europe relations.
Liu Qunqian stated that China highly values its relations with Europe. As two major global powers of peace and constructiveness, the healthy and stable development of China-Europe relations meets both sides' fundamental and long-term interests, and aligns with the common expectations of the international community. The year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Europe. The facts over the past 50 years have repeatedly proven that there are no fundamental conflicts of interest between China and Europe, nor are there geopolitical conflicts; they are partners that achieve mutual success.
Liu Qunqian emphasized that China-Europe relations are not directed against, dependent on, or constrained by any third party, and that developing China-Europe relations requires confidence.
Liu Qunqian said, 'Let the wind and waves rise, and sit steadily on the fishing platform.' China is willing to work with Europe to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of both sides, strengthen cooperation in all fields, including interactions between legislative bodies, jointly respond to global challenges, oppose unilateralism and protectionism, and promote the positive and forward development of China-Europe relations, providing more stability and certainty for the world.
China's defense spending accounts for a lower proportion of GDP compared to the world average.
Liu Qunqian introduced that China's defense spending has maintained single-digit growth for nine consecutive years since 2016, and the proportion of defense spending to GDP has been kept within 1.5% for many years, which is below the world average.
Liu Qunqian said that peace requires strength to be protected. A China with a strong defense can better safeguard national sovereignty, security, and development interests, fulfill its responsibilities and obligations as a major power on the international stage, and maintain world peace and stability.
The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence are not only the cornerstone of China's independent and peaceful foreign policy but have also become fundamental norms of international relations that are open, inclusive, and universally applicable. China is willing to continue to promote the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence together with all countries, making new and greater contributions to maintaining world peace and promoting common development.
The National People's Congress maintains contact and communication with the parliaments of 190 countries.
Lou Qinjian introduced that the National People's Congress's diplomatic exchanges are an important part of the country's overall diplomacy and the work of the NPC. Currently, the National People's Congress maintains connections with the parliaments of 190 countries, has established 26 mechanisms for foreign exchanges, and 143 bilateral friendship groups, and is a member or observer of more than 20 multilateral parliamentary organizations such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
The issuance related to the 2 trillion yuan Bonds replacement has already started in 2025.
Lou Qinjian introduced that in November 2024, during the 12th meeting of the 14th National People's Congress Standing Committee, it was decided to approve an increase in the local government debt limit quota to replace stock hidden debts by 6 trillion yuan. As of the end of last year, the quota of 2 trillion yuan in replacement bonds for 2024 has been fully issued, and most regions have completed the replacement. The issuance works related to the 2 trillion yuan replacement bonds for 2025 have already begun, effectively preventing and resolving local government debt risks, strongly ensuring the stable operation of local finances, and supporting high-quality development.
Lou Qinjian stated that in the next step, the National People's Congress Standing Committee will strengthen the supervision of government debt management in accordance with relevant legal provisions, especially enhancing the tracking and supervision of the implementation of the local government debt limit quota replacement of stock hidden debts, promoting further strengthening of government debt management, actively and steadily preventing and resolving local government debt risks, accelerating the establishment of a government debt management mechanism that is compatible with high-quality development, and assisting in the sustained and healthy development of the economy and society.
China has always shared the same breath and fate with the Global South.
Lou Qinjian introduced that the contribution rate of Global South countries to world economic growth has reached 80% in the past 20 years. The collective rise of the Global South is a distinct sign of the major changes in the world. As a developing country and a member of the Global South, China has always shared the same breath and fate with the Global South and has always been a participant and leader in South-South cooperation.
Editor/Rocky
