China's ceremonial legislature, the National People's Congress, is set to meet in Beijing on Thursday, where it will unveil the country's policy direction and economic goals for the coming years. The meeting is significant as it will see the Chinese premier announce the nation's GDP target and other economic objectives for the year, as well as the details of the 15th five-year plan, which is expected to focus on building tech prowess and self-sufficiency. However, the gathering has changed under President Xi Jinping, with tighter scripts and less scope for debate, making it more of a showcase and propaganda event than a venue for policy deliberation.
The economy is at the forefront of the Congress' agenda, with China facing a sluggish domestic market characterized by high youth unemployment, weak housing prices, and sagging domestic consumption. The country is also in the midst of a trade war with the U.S., which has leveraged tariffs on all Chinese goods. The government plans to maintain its efforts to improve living standards and boost consumption, including raising incomes and improving education, childcare, elderly care, and healthcare systems. Experts, however, caution that China will have to strike a tough balance between its goals of boosting tech manufacturing and boosting domestic consumption.
The National People's Congress is also expected to ratify a new law governing China's ethnic minorities, which has been criticized for focusing on assimilation and reducing autonomy for the country's minority groups. The legislation aims to foster a stronger sense of community among all ethnic groups in the Chinese nation and promote interaction, exchange, and integration. However, the Congress is not expected to see any personnel movements, with only one member remaining of the powerful Central Military Commission.
Despite the lack of personnel changes, the Congress is still significant as it will provide insight into the Chinese government's priorities and goals for the coming years. It will be interesting to see how the government navigates the challenges of a sluggish economy, a trade war with the U.S., and the push for ethnic assimilation. As Alfred Wu, a professor of public policy at the National University of Singapore, noted, the Congress has evolved from a venue for policy deliberation to a showcase and propaganda event. It will be crucial to see how the government balances its goals and addresses the challenges facing the country.
