Editor's note: Stephen Ndegwa is a Nairobi-based communication expert, lecturer-scholar at the United States International University-Africa, author and international affairs columnist. The article reflects the author's opinions, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The annual Two Sessions, China's meeting of top level legislative and political officials, kicked off this week. Similar to an annual board meeting, the Two Sessions are a time for both reflection and laying down strategies for the new year and beyond.

At the core of the Two Sessions this year, discussions will focus on replacing high-speed growth with high-quality growth; rebalancing the economy with supply-side structural reform; expanding domestic demand, while continuing to support international export markets; driving modernization through innovation and technological advancements; and promoting high-end, intelligent, and green production.

Basically, these are the hallmarks of a modern economy that has taken off, giving special focus to quality rather than quantity. Experts see the Two Sessions offering the opportunity to put the country's overall leadership on the same page with the architects of the unfolding vision. 

China seems to be giving more effort to strengthening its internal position even as it spreads and shares its economic success overseas. As the areas of focus show, the country is searching for the perfect equilibrium between the international and in-country markets as a way of girding its economy from shocks like the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

As the meeting progresses, the world will be looking for a few critical pointers that could either raise or dampen the spirits of China's allies. 

For Africa, the Two Sessions are significant in the promise they hold for added impetus in the two partners' cooperation. China has invested heavily in Africa's infrastructural development and it is gratifying to note that this have already been restarted in full throttle after the pandemic-imposed lull in 2020.

Africa will be looking at areas where it can align itself with China's new thinking, particularly as it looks forward to upgrading the partnership during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit to be held later this year in Dakar, Senegal. 

With the conclusion of the follow-through efforts in the implementation of the outcomes of the 2018 FOCAC Beijing Summit this year, it is expected that a new page in Sino-Africa relations will be opened. The Two Sessions will give Africa a fairly good idea of what to expect going forward.

The Western bloc, mainly comprised of the U.S. and the European Union, will be looking at the economic policy pronouncements from the meeting. Of course, they are not all happy that China is the only major economy to register positive growth in 2020. In their judgement, that should have been the preserve of developed economies, many of which unfortunately bore the brunt of the pandemic.

Indeed, the real focus by the West will be on the political standpoints that will emanate from the meeting, which they could use as a barometer of the country's current strength. The U.S. will study closely any emerging philosophies by China's political class as a way of creating counter narratives in the former's mantra that seeks a world with a shared destiny for mankind through win-win outcomes. 

Even as there are differing views, no one doubts China's resolve to transform the socio-economic status of its people to greater heights. The fight and ultimate victory against extreme poverty in record time shows the future possibilities that the country can explore. Moreover, such a "miracle" could not have been achieved without the resolute and visionary leadership offered by the Communist Party of China.

The Two Sessions offer a glimpse of the future both for China and the world.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com)