China
People’s Congress opens in Beijing
Leaders and delegates attend the closing session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People. Photo: Li Xiang/XinHua/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
Topics at China’s plenary session of the People’s Congress this year include the country’s economic course and military spending. A new missile test by North Korea is likely to cause irritation.
This year’s plenary session of the Chinese People’s Congress in Beijing began with the statement of accounts by Prime Minister Li Keqiang.
The start in the Great Hall of the People was overshadowed by another missile test by North Korea, which, according to Japanese findings, had fired a ballistic missile into the sea immediately beforehand.
The fact that North Korea’s ruler Kim Jong Un chose the start of the plenary session in Beijing for his new military provocation is likely to cause irritation in the big neighbor China. UN resolutions ban North Korea from testing ballistic missiles that could also carry nuclear warheads.
China’s economy continues to grow
In his work report at the beginning of the seven-day session in front of around 3,000 delegates, China’s prime minister outlined the economic course of the second largest economy. The draft budget and the increase in military spending were also eagerly awaited. Existing provincial plans indicate a targeted growth target of between 5.0 and 5.5 percent.
Last year, “more than six percent” had been specified. However, the economy even grew by 8.1 percent in the previous year due to the low basis for comparison due to the corona pandemic.