The Thursday afternoon press conference presided by Wang Guoqing, Spokesperson for the Fifth Session of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), can be seen as a prelude to China’s annual Two Sessions of National People's Congress (NPC) and National Committee of the CPPCC. For anyone interested in Chinese politics and what the blueprint looks like for the year ahead, the two-week long high-level meetings are unmissable. 

During the 84-minute long press conference, journalists from home and abroad raised questions about the CPPCC’s work over the past year as well as domestic issues. Spokesperson Wang Guoqing responded by detailing the stance of the CPPCC National Committee on the domestic and international issues raised. 

In response to “must-ask” questions concerning the economy, Wang expressed confidence in China’s outlook, with the country expected to remain the strongest engine for global economic growth in 2017. Wang said that China’s economy expanded by 6.7 percent last year, marking a good start for the country's 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020). Meanwhile, China's 2016 growth accounted for about a third of global growth, ahead of other major economies.

At last year’s press conference, the spokesperson had said he was hoping for tough questions, saying the sharper the better. This year, he faced questions not only focusing on the national economy and social development, but also covering issues concerning the South China Sea and other aspects of China’s foreign policy. The spokesperson looked to underline that the country will strive for progress in a bid to enhance stability, against a backdrop of increased instability elsewhere in the world. However, Wang said that China’s willingness to sustain a sound development momentum doesn’t mean its pace of reforms will be slowed down. 

Following the press conference, the CPPCC session will open on Friday afternoon and last until March 13, said Wang. Over 2,000 political advisors will hear and deliberate a report about the work of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, as well as a report on how the Standing Committee has handled proposals from CPPCC National Committee members since the previous session.

A political resolution is also expected to be adopted at the meeting, the spokesperson said.

The political advisors will also be present at the Fifth Session of the 12th NPC as non-voting participants, hearing and discussing a report on the work of the government and discussing a draft of the general provisions of civil law. They will also hear and discuss work reports of the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

The CPPCC is an important organ for multiparty cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, and it is an important means of promoting socialist democracy. Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the 12th CPPCC National Committee, will deliver a report on the work of the CPPCC National Committee's Standing Committee over the past year, and the bulk of the political advisers will participate in the discussion of major state affairs and share their opinions and suggestions.