Government reshuffle as China’s People’s Congress to confirm Xi Jinping’s third term – News

  • In China, the annual People’s Congress begins with around 3,000 participants.
  • The meeting will focus on the weakening economy, the planned reorganization of the Chinese government and military spending.
  • Prime Minister Li Keqiang opened the plenary session of Parliament in the Great Hall of the People with his last statement of accounts.

The 67-year-old Premier Li Keqiang, who is leaving after two terms in office, is likely to set a growth target of around five percent or even more for this year at the People’s Congress. A similar figure of around 5.5 percent was aimed for last year.

Under the pressure of the zero-Covid policy with lockdowns, forced quarantine and mass tests, which was only abandoned in December, the second-largest economy had only achieved three percent. It was the second-worst growth rate since 1976 and only slightly better than 2020’s 2.2 percent at the start of the pandemic.

Renewal of the government every ten years

The focus of the conference is the extensive reform of the government, which only takes place every ten years. The head of state and party leader Xi Jinping is to be confirmed for a third term as president. The 69-year-old had already ignored earlier age and term limits at the party conference in October.

Legend:

The spokesman for the conference, Wang Chao, reported on Saturday in Beijing that almost 3,000 delegates were registered for the session in the Great Hall of the People.

Keystone/AP Photo/Andy Wong

Former Shanghai party leader Li Qiang is to become the new prime minister. The 63-year-old has had a long career, most of which he has spent on the prosperous east coast of China. He is said to have economic expertise and a friendly attitude towards private companies.

The new budget will also be presented at the meeting. Against the background of growing tensions with Taiwan, observers are once again expecting an above-average increase in military spending of possibly around seven percent.

Significant increase in military spending expected


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Against the background of the threats against the democratic Taiwan, China’s disputed territorial claims in the East and South China Seas and the rivalry with the USA, the China Institute Merics in Berlin expects the military budget to increase by more than seven percent.

People’s Congress spokesman Wang Chao did not provide figures on Saturday, but said: “Behind the growth in defense spending is not only the need to address complex security challenges, but also the need to fulfill responsibilities as a great power. » At the same time, the spokesman said: “China’s military modernization is not a threat to other countries.”

China’s defense budget has always risen faster than total spending in recent years – by 7.1 percent in the previous year. The increase was also mostly higher than the growth rate of the economy. According to experts, however, the official military budget only reflects part of the true expenditure, since many of the expenses for the People’s Liberation Army are also covered by other budgets.

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