The key takeaways from the Chinese government annual Work Report

 More than 5,000 members of China’s political elite have converged on Beijing this week for the biggest event on the political calendar. Known as the "two sessions", or lianghui , the annual gatherings of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the National People’s Congress (NPC) are a window on the central government’s priorities and plans for the coming year. - South China Morning Post - SCMP - More than 5,000 members of China’s political elite have converged on Beijing this week for the biggest event on the political calendar. Known as the "two sessions", or lianghui , the annual gatherings of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the National People’s Congress (NPC) are a window on the central government’s priorities and plans for the coming year. This is the first in a new 3-part newsletter series - “Decoding China’s Two Sessions 2021”. We are sending the first edition to all of our readers, while future newsletters will be exclusively available to SCMP's digital subscribers. To access this newsletter series and others like it in the future, [please support SCMP with a digital subscription]( and gain access to unrivalled coverage of the ‘two sessions’ and trusted analysis about China's growing impact around the world. [Beijing has broad policy ambitions this year after its success controlling and recovering from the coronavirus pandemic in 2020]( 05 March, 2021 [ ] More than 5,000 members of China’s political elite have converged on Beijing this week for the biggest event on the political calendar. Known as the "[two sessions]( or lianghui , the annual gatherings of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the National People’s Congress (NPC) are a window on the central government’s priorities and plans for the coming year. On Friday morning, Premier Li Keqiang read out to NPC delegates the government’s Work Report, which reviews the government’s accomplishments over the last year and gives general guidance on the government’s social and economic policy direction this year. The NPC session began under tight security and [strong Covid controls](. Some key takeaways from the report: [ ] [ ] [ ] Beijing sets a GDP growth target of “above 6 per cent” for this year. The [GDP target]( is generally in line with the expectations of those analysts who predicted there would be a growth target for this year. - China’s economy is widely expected by analysts to grow by more than 8 per cent this year, helped by the low comparison base from last year’s weak growth. - Setting the target below expected annual growth is meant to emphasize the sustainable level of growth on a quarterly basis over the course of the year, government officials said. And, [as expected]( Beijing cut back its fiscal support for the economy as it starts to taper off economic stimulus and [re-emphasises debt reduction]( - The central government’s budget deficit-to-GDP target to 3.2 per cent, down from the target of 3.6 per cent last year - It also cut back the local government special purpose bond issuance quota to 3.65 trillion yuan (US$564 billion) from 3.75 trillion yuan last year. - Beijing will not issue additional “Covid-19” bonds this year after selling 1 trillion yuan last year to fund coronavirus relief - No numerical target set for money supply growth this year. M2 growth to be in line with nominal GDP growth. Other economic targets were set in an "appropriate range" - Create 11 million new jobs this year, up from target of 9 million last year and actual growth of 11.86 million. - Surveyed unemployment rate of 5.5 per cent this year, down from target of 6 per cent and actual 5.6 per cent - Consumer inflation target of “about 3 per cent this year, down from 3.5 per cent target last year and actual growth of 2.5 per cent [ ] [ ] [ ] Hong Kong China to "[close loopholes]( in Hong Kong electoral system to prevent foreign interference - The central government will ensure the “comprehensive and accurate” implementation of the 'one country, two systems' doctrine, with the "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong" and the city enjoying a "high degree of autonomy," Li said. - "We will resolutely guard against and deter external forces’ interference in the affairs of Hong Kong and Macau. We will support both regions as they grow their economies and improve people's lives, so as to maintain the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macau," he said. - Further elaborating on the plan to reform Hong Kong electoral system, NPC vice-chairman Wang Chen said there were loopholes in Hong Kong that allowed foreign forces to interfere with the city's affairs. Some even used their public office to call for such interference. - "The risks in the system need to be removed, and a [democratic electoral system with Hong Kong characteristics need to be established]( he added. - Candidates for Legco will still need [pro-Beijing body’s approval]( [ ] [ ] [ ] China will increase lending by big banks to small businesses by more than 30 per cent this year, continue fintech clamp down China plans to [increase the number of "inclusive" loans]( offered by its biggest banks to micro and small businesses by more than 30 per cent in 2021, Li said. - It will also continue to enact new lending rules and increase its scrutiny of the nation’s financial technology (fintech) industry. - As part of the new five-year plan, banks will be encouraged to increase credit loans and first-time loans and provide "targeted support" for companies and sectors that continue to be affected by the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. - Beijing will also expand its efforts to stop monopolistic behaviour in the tech industry and curtail the "unregulated" expansion of capital, Li said. [ ] [ ] [ ] China sets comprehensive plan to become advanced manufacturing powerhouse China sets out comprehensive plan to [upgrade its manufacturing capabilities]( by 2025 in eight priority areas, - The plan focuses on rare earth and special materials, robotics, aircraft engines, new energy vehicles and smart cars, high-end medical equipment and innovative medicine such as vaccines, agricultural machinery, major equipment used in shipbuilding, aviation and high-speed rail, and industrial applications of China’s Beidou global navigation satellite system. - The strategy would help offset rising production costs, reduce reliance on foreign technologies and enhance competitiveness against the US. - The advanced manufacturing plan forms an integral part of the country’s 14th five-year plan, which spells out the country’s economic and development goals for 2021 to 2025. - The new plan comes after Beijing played down its previous "Made in China 2025" industrial strategy [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] The need for continued vigilance on Covid-19; may not open border until 2022 Efforts to contain the Covid-19 pandemic must not be relaxed, Li said, and the nation must work to address the remaining weak points in its control efforts. - [China may not relax border controls until 2022]( as vaccination plan makes slow progress - Preventing imported cases from sparking local outbreaks is ‘the priority among the priorities’, NDRC says in annual report at NPC. - Herd immunity in China will not be achieved until the middle of next year at the earliest, head of Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention says - Measures are still needed to stop the emergence of cluster outbreaks - The government shall provide free vaccinations to all citizens. - Authorities throughout China together spent more than 400 billion yuan (US$62 billion) on containing the coronavirus last year. - China provided 220 billion masks, 2.3 billion pieces of protective gear, and one billion test kids to other nations. [ ] [ ] [ ] Beijing increases military budget more than expected Beijing will [increase spending on its military]( more than expected this year - The military budget for 2021 will increase by 6.8 per cent to 1.355 trillion yuan. The increase is slightly higher than the 6.6 per cent growth last year and higher than the 6 per cent expected by most analysts given the country’s continued battle against the coronavirus. - Training for the People’s Liberation Army will be boosted to raise their readiness for battle. and a better coordination to address security risk is needed. - A separate document on the nation’s upcoming five-year plan said measures have to be taken to ensure the building of a strong military by 2027. Those measures include upgrading weapons, focusing more on disruptive technology. [ ] [ ] [ ] Beijing hopes for "appropriate" fertility level this year, will gradually extend retirement age China is hoping for an ["appropriate" fertility level]( this year as the country faces up to its [growing demographic challenge](. - But vague reference is seen as the best the government can say while it awaits the data on new births in the population census due in April. - China will gradually extend China’s retirement ages during the 2021-2025 five year plan, Li said, without providing details. - The government will also ensure 95 per cent of its citizens would have access to a basic pension during the five year period. [ ] [ ] [ ] Beijing to take steps to rein in housing prices and ensure affordability for first time buyers China's government will make more land available for developers to increase the housing stock in the world’s largest property market to help [reign in]( rapidly rising housing prices, - It will keep a tight lid on runaway prices to ensure that affordability is within the reach of the nation’s first-home buyers. - It will also increase the supply of subsidised rental homes and shared ownership housing to ensure well-regulated development of the long-term rental housing market - It will also cut taxes and rental fees. - "We will keep the prices of land and housing, as well as market expectations stable," Li said. - "We will address prominent housing issues in large cities [and] make every effort to address the housing difficulties faced by our people, especially new urban residents and young people." [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] John Carter [ ] mailto:life@scmp.com mailto:life@scmp.com [ ] SCMP NEWSLETTERS THAT MAY INTEREST YOU China at a Glance A wealth of insights giving you the inside story on China every day. China Economic Update The latest developments from trade relations to growth rates and other key economic data. Tech Wrap The biggest tech news and reviews coming out of China, HK and Asia. [VIEW AND SIGN UP]( Download our app To get push notifications direct and never miss a story as it breaks [Hong Kong]( [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( South China Morning Post · 19/F Tower One, Times Square · 1 Matheson St. · Causeway Bay · Hong Kong Copyright © 2021 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.