Editor's note: The wrap-up story is based on diaries written by two CGTN reporters who covered the Two Sessions on the scene. In the format of letters, Wang Mengjie has mainly focused on the CPPCC, Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, while Zhu Danni has paid her attention on National People's Congress (NPC). The two conferences are together known as Two Sessions, which is a window to observe China's development.
Hey Danni,
Glad to talk to you in this way. It's weird but fancy as it is the first time I'm writing to a colleague. I'm back from a mountain of reporting work, and I hope you have a good rest.
Looking back at our bittersweet coverage during the Two Sessions, I would say the experiences made me feel a moment of heaven and a moment of hell. From fussing over the package before departure, to the live-streams on CPPCC members' corridor; from our first vlogs, my interview to CPPCC member to my first video interview, they are all imprinted in my mind. I know it is same for you. Happy memories, right?
It is also my first time working with you, though we hardly met each other in person at this year's Two Sessions due to COVID-19.
Due to health concerns, all reporters were asked to cover the meetings at the media center, which was away from the Great Hall of the People, where NPC deputies and CPPCC members held discussions at.
However, technology has brought the sessions closer to the public. NPC deputies and CPPCC members could talk to journalists via video link and telephones. CGTN has also adopted contactless eyeglasses for news coverage. I believe you also have your own opinions on this trend.
The sessions have concluded, but I think our reporting will never stop. We are just the kind of persons who look outside trying to look inside. I have to say that it is great for me to co-work with you during one of the most important political events in the nation. See you at office and we can grab a cup of coffee together.
Yours,
Mengjie
Hey Mengjie,
Thanks for your letter. Even though the Two Sessions have come to a closure, I still feel so excited. As you know, this is the first time I got to cover and experience the meetings first hand.
For the past seven days, I was with you among the many journalists covering the Two Sessions, I was mainly covering the 13th NPC events this time. The NPC is China's top legislature with 2,957 deputies meeting for a week this year. During the meeting, deputies submitted motions, passed laws, and voted on government work reports and appointment of government officials, as well as national budgets.
As you mentioned, China's largest political gathering, the Two Sessions, was delayed for over two months due to the COVID-19 epidemic. From the shortened meetings to fewer press conferences, we have been talking about how different this Two Sessions has been.
With social distancing measures in place, press conferences and deputy corridors were moved online. Person-to-person interactions between media, NPC deputies and CPPCC members were not allowed. Instead, technologies like cloud computing and conference links were used for media briefings and interviews. But none of these changes have actually dimmed NPC deputies' enthusiasm on weighing in on some of the key issues facing the country.
Some highlights of this year's meeting include how China is going to set out measures to improve the public health system, and reform the system for disease prevention and control. We all know that China has largely brought the epidemic under control. But it still faces many challenges, such as reviving the economy. How would the government do its best to support enterprises, especially small and medium businesses? The world is closely watching China's every step in its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Secondly, the adoption of the Civil Code, China's first-ever Civil Code, contains 84 chapters and 1,260 articles, which deals with intellectual property, marriage and family laws that are going to be new for the people's rights.
And finally, a topic that has been hotly debated in the past week, the draft of the national security legislation for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The draft, which was submitted to China's national legislature for deliberation, aims at establishing and improving the legal system and enforcement mechanisms in the city to safeguard national security and plug the loopholes in the HKSAR's legal system regarding national security. This is to ensure the stable implementation of the "One country, Two systems" principle.
This year's Two Sessions offered a glimpse to the world of how China will do things differently as people across the world are fighting with the virus. My experience of reporting this year's Two Sessions has been new and challenging.
Yours,
Danni
Reporters: Wang Mengjie, Zhu Danni
Cameraman and editor: Zhao Yuxiang, Zheng Songwu, Lin Zihan
Cover photo: Du Chenxin
Chief Editor: Chen Ran
Supervisor: Zhang Shilei