Chinese President Xi Jinping leads the parliament meeting.

Photo: Agency.

The president of China, Xi Jinping, participates this Sunday in the session of the National People's Congress (APN), considered the most important annual political event in the country.

The NPC meetings run in parallel with those of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the political advisory body.

The opening ceremony of the event, which will last until March 13, kicked off at 09:00 in the morning (local time).

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang delivered the latest government work report under his leadership.

economic goals

Specifically, Li Keqiang revealed that the country intends to increase its gross domestic product by around 5% this year.

According to AFP, this is one of the lowest goals in decades.

Chinese leaders are aiming to stabilize global growth, after the nation missed the target of around 5.5% last year amid tight controls from the covid-19 pandemic and a housing crisis.

In addition, the report set a target of a 3% budget deficit for the coming year.

The budget for diplomacy is expected to increase by 12.2% this year, which is a strong increase from 2.4% last year.

Meanwhile, spending on public safety will also rise 6.4% in 2023, up from 4.7% last year.

Among other topics, Li emphasized the development of the semiconductor industry and other key industrial sectors whose budget will grow nearly 50 percent to 13.3 billion yuan (1.925 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023.

the military budget

In addition, he noted that China's annual defense budget is expected to maintain single-digit growth for the eighth consecutive year, rising 7.2 percent to 1.55 trillion yuan ($225 billion).

The premier also stressed that the Chinese military "should work on military operations, increase combat readiness and improve military capabilities."

"The Armed Forces should intensify military training and readiness on all fronts, develop a new military strategic manual, devote more energy to combat training, and make a well-coordinated effort to strengthen military work in all fields and areas," stated.

Chinese officials say the country needs to once again increase defense spending to meet "complex security challenges" and "fulfill its responsibility as a major country," Bloomberg reports.

"China's future is closely linked to the future of the world. China's military modernization will not be a threat to any country, but is a positive force for regional stability and world peace," said Wang Chao, spokesperson for the session. NPC's annual legislative meeting, at a news conference in Beijing on Saturday.

"China's Peaceful Reunification"

Likewise, the prime minister reiterated that Beijing upholds the one-China principle, according to which Taiwan is part of the country.

He said the government should "take decisive action to oppose Taiwan's independence and promote reunification."

"We must facilitate the peaceful development of relations with Taiwan and advance China's peaceful reunification process," he stressed, quoted by Reuters.

What will be decided during this week?

According to Reuters, there will be a reorganization of positions at the head of the most important institutions in the country.

Xi Jinping himself will be confirmed for his third presidential term, the outlet recalls.

In the biggest personnel change, Li Qiang, currently Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party's Shanghai Committee and a member of the 20th Standing Committee of the Chinese Communist Party's Politburo, is about to be confirmed as the premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China.

In addition, Xi Jinping's ally He Lifeng is expected to become vice premier in charge of overseeing the economic portfolio, while Zhu Hexin, a senior state bank official, is likely to replace Yi Gang as head of the central bank.

The delegates will also approve the candidacies of members of the State Council, ministers, heads of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China and the Supreme People's Court.

(Taken from RT in Spanish)