In anticipation of the upcoming annual “two sessions,” the press center for China’s legislative and political consultative sessions has officially opened at the Media Center Hotel in Beijing. More than 3,000 reporters have registered to cover the crucial meetings leading up to the second session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) and the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).
Scheduled to commence on March 5 and 4, respectively, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday. The eighth session of the Standing Committee of the NPC concluded in Beijing on the same day.
According to Xinhua, the Standing Committee of the Tianjin Municipal People’s Congress has accepted Qin Gang’s resignation as a deputy to the 14th NPC.
Currently, the 14th NPC comprises 2,956 deputies, as reported by state-broadcaster CCTV. Over 3,000 reporters, including more than 1,000 from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, and abroad, have registered to cover the two sessions, highlighting a significant increase in the number of journalists compared to previous years.
Emphasizing the commitment to openness and transparency, the press center will provide news services for journalists covering the event. The press conference hall and interview rooms are ready for a series of interview activities, with measures in place to make the work of both domestic and foreign journalists more convenient.
To facilitate access to information, electronic versions of the main conference documents will be provided, eliminating the need for journalists to wait in long queues for collection. Interview rooms will also be set up at the accommodation of NPC deputies and members of the CPPCC National Committee.
In addition to domestic interest, international journalists, including a senior Japanese journalist, are closely monitoring updates on the two sessions, emphasizing the event’s significance in gaining insights into China’s overall direction in the new year. The Japanese journalist expressed particular interest in China’s defense budget and gross domestic product targets expected to be unveiled during the two sessions.
Chinese experts anticipate that this year’s two sessions will focus on high-quality development and strategies to bolster confidence in the Chinese economy. Notably, China’s first-tier economic heavyweight cities, with GDPs exceeding 1 trillion yuan ($139.1 billion) in 2023, have set higher annual GDP targets this year, following the conclusion of their local two sessions.