The annual session of the National People’s Congress concluded today in Beijing. From Xinhua:
The session was an event where the lawmakers reached consensus, defined major missions and strengthened confidence on the country’s development, said Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, in his address at the closing meeting of the session.
At the session, the NPC deputies examined and approved a number of important documents, including the government work report, the national economic and social development plan and the central budget.
They also endorsed the work reports of the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate.
The lawmakers approved the resignations of two NPC Standing Committee members at the closing meeting. [Source]
Foreign journalists tweeted their impressions of Premier Li Keqiang’s concluding press conference. While many initially remained optimistic that Li would release some news about the alleged investigation of former security chief Zhou Yongkang, others reported being explicitly warned not to ask about his case. See also the South China Morning Post’s transcript of some of the questions asked by reporters and a round-up of highlights from the press conference from Reuters:
Happening now: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets the press to mark closing of parliamentary session | http://t.co/TS8QEE1lzP
— SCMP 南華早報 (@SCMP_News) March 13, 2014
The NPC did a fine job of staying completely bereft of interest. But look forward to someone asking Li Keqiang about Zhou Yongkang.
— Chris Buckley 储百亮 (@ChuBailiang) March 13, 2014
Reporters pack the Great Hall，to see if Premier Li is gonna tell us something about the big tiger Zhou Yongkang. pic.twitter.com/aWTs9k5r5a
— edde (@Edourdoo) March 13, 2014
So, business as usual or will Li Keqiang answer an unscripted question today at annual "press conference"? It's very exciting.
— Kim Rathcke Jensen (@kinablog) March 13, 2014
Finally made it for my first #NPC. Mostly wanted to just see this in person. pic.twitter.com/EKpeompfKi
— Brittany Hite (@brittanyhite) March 13, 2014
Chinese premier, Li Keqiang, holding his annual press conference today. That's right, *annual*… http://t.co/u1QrQsFQGK
— James West (@jameswest2010) March 13, 2014
On his war on pollution, Premier Li notes that many start their day by checking PM2.5 readings.
— Gady Epstein (@gadyepstein) March 13, 2014
Wasn't that long ago that PM2.5 readings were only coming from US embassy in Beijing. Now Chinese Premier is talking about it in presser.
— Fergus Ryan (@fryan) March 13, 2014
Stop the presses: China and US are at different stages of development, natural to have tensions, but common interests outweigh differences.
— Gady Epstein (@gadyepstein) March 13, 2014
Ohhh ok! I get it now RT @CCTVNews Premier Li: China and the United States are very different countries. Therefore differences are natural.
— Megha Rajagopalan (@meghara) March 13, 2014
Chinese premier Li Keqiang promises "institutional steps" to combat corruption, but skips the obvious– asset disclosure for officials.
— Barbara Demick (@BarbaraDemick) March 13, 2014
Seriously? MT @george_chen CNN got FIRST question for Premier Li — Will #MH370 have impact on China's opening-up economic policy? How?!
— Rob Schmitz (@rob_schmitz) March 13, 2014
Wow, CNN and FT get first two questions at Li Keqiang presser. CCTV, Xinhua must be miffed.
— John Ruwitch (@jruwitch) March 13, 2014
Strangely CCTV seems very quick to put appropriate caption for each question, Almost as if they know what is coming….
— Simon Denyer (@simondenyer) March 13, 2014
For anyone wondering, these questions at Premier Li annual press conference are always pre-screened. Would be nice to see a day when not so.
— Gady Epstein (@gadyepstein) March 13, 2014
Kudos. Premier Li Keqing praises Jamil Anderlini's Chinese at nationally televised press conf. @JamilFT
— Barbara Demick (@BarbaraDemick) March 13, 2014
No #NPC presser is complete without the Chinese premier praising some foreign journalist's good grasp of Mandarin
— Chua Chin Hon (@chinhon) March 13, 2014
Interesting that Li Keqiang has so far dodged the usual soft-ball question from a Russian reporter. This year a little sensitive maybe?
— Chris Buckley 储百亮 (@ChuBailiang) March 13, 2014
Foreign journos play a losing game w #NPC media handlers: why agree to a softball qn if the guy's not even gonna say something interesting?
— Chua Chin Hon (@chinhon) March 13, 2014
OK, I think we can forget about Zhou Yongkang getting aired today. Even Ben Lim of Reuters gave it a miss #NPC
— Chua Chin Hon (@chinhon) March 13, 2014
No Zhou Yongkang question. Maybe next year.
— malcolmmoore (@MalcolmMoore) March 13, 2014
Imagine if the government leader of a great power and world's second largest economy gave news conference once a year and there was no news.
— Chris Buckley 储百亮 (@ChuBailiang) March 13, 2014
Flies and tigers may be voracious but apparently journalists are so hungry that Li Keqiang felt the need to end his press conference.
— Hannah Beech (@hkbeech) March 13, 2014
And that's a wrap. Literally zero news. A long streak of stultifying NPC pressers broken only by Wen Jiabao's "Chongqing moment" in 2012.
— Gady Epstein (@gadyepstein) March 13, 2014
If only there had been a shorter NPC presser. RT @taniabranigan: RT @chinhon: Shorter #NPC presser: no news.
— Gady Epstein (@gadyepstein) March 13, 2014
Premier Li Keqiang after his press conference following closing meeting of China's parliament session pic.twitter.com/EbnUNOt6ZT
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) March 13, 2014
