Innholdsfortegnelse for Vol.68/No.12 i Beijing Review

The growing global significance of China’s economic and social development has placed its annual Two Sessions among the world’s most-watched political events. These plenary sessions of the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee not only guide and report on China’s domestic development, but also increasingly shape the role it plays around the world. China contributes around 30 percent of global growth and the meetings have become a stabilizer of global economic confidence. The around 5-percent GDP growth target and policies promoting high-quality development, announced at this year’s sessions, will enhance confidence in international markets and provide support for the recovery and sustainable development of the world economy. The Two Sessions also provide the world with details on new and growing opportunities for commercial cooperation…

The annual sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee are held each March and set the course for China’s development in the coming year. Known as the Two Sessions, or lianghui, their decisions directly affect the lives of every Chinese person, as well as the global economy. 2025 is the final year for two large-scale programs: Made in China 2025 and the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25). This is the final year for assessing achievements in industrial modernization, technological breakthroughs and sustainable development under these programs. Therefore, this year’s events not only summarized the results of development but also set new goals for the future. During last year’s March session of the NPC, which outlined China’s economic priorities, the term “new…

In early March, China and the U.S. outlined their respective government’s priorities and vision for the future. Premier Li Qiang delivered the Report on the Work of the Government at the Third Session of the 14th National People’s Congress in Beijing on March 5, detailing China’s economic performance, policy direction and long-term strategy. A day later, President Donald Trump addressed a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C., setting forth his administration’s legislative agenda and political aspirations. The contrast between these two speeches was stark. The Report on the Work of the Government was a meticulously structured, data-driven account of China’s economic progress and a roadmap for its continued growth. Trump’s speech, in contrast, was a highly rhetorical, self-congratulatory and often divisive performance, aimed more at energizing his political base…

Faced with a growing belief within the United States that erecting barriers against other countries will put it back on the path of development, China is continuing to uphold its strategy of opening up and international cooperation to pursue mutually beneficial outcomes. “This is truly encouraging,” said Guillermo Espinosa, a Chinese language professor at the National Polytechnic Institute (NPI) in Mexico, during the 2025 China-Mexico Cooperation and Development Forum held alongside China’s Two Sessions—the annual meetings of the country’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress (NPC), and the top political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). This year, the sessions ran from March 4 to 11. Themed Hand in Hand, Building a Better Future Together, the forum was held simultaneously in Beijing and…

Today, the world is undergoing extremely rapid and profound changes. The Two Sessions, held each March in Beijing, namely annual sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, provide an excellent opportunity to review the changes taking place in the world, reflect on the path China has taken, its achievements and challenges, and evaluate future steps. Looking back at China’s development over the past four decades, we must acknowledge the achievements it has made. China’s tremendous development since the early 1980s, starting with the policy of opening up and reform, and especially over the past 15 years, has earned widespread recognition worldwide. China has emerged from the ranks of developing countries and joined the group of developed nations. Today, we can…

This year, China will adopt a more proactive fiscal policy, coordinate various types of fiscal funds and ensure its fiscal policy will be more effective, according to the government work report released on March 5. The deficit-to-GDP ratio will be raised by 1 percentage point to 4 percent, pushing the total deficit to 5.66 trillion yuan ($789 billion), up by 1.6 trillion yuan ($223 billion) from last year. The general public budget expenditure will increase 1.2 trillion yuan ($167 billion) to 29.7 trillion yuan ($4.14 trillion). A more proactive fiscal policy will provide a stronger impetus for the Chinese economy to achieve a reasonable growth in quantity and effective improvement in quality. China’s deficit-to-GDP ratio generally remained below 3 percent in most previous years, except in 2020, when it exceeded…

From April 20 to 22, 2024, a medical delegation led by Wang Yan, President of Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital (XMCH), affiliated with Xiamen University, traveled to El Salvador to participate in a medical exchange with doctors at Rosales National Hospital. In the national capital San Salvador, the Chinese team guided Salvadoran physicians in performing a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) surgery and a minimally invasive aortic valve replacement surgery, both of which were the first to be conducted in El Salvador’s public healthcare system. The two hospitals signed a memorandum of cooperation, and XMCH partnered with Shanghai-based MicroPort Scientific Corp. to jointly donate medical equipment to support the development of Salvadoran healthcare. “We believe these surgical demonstrations and medical donations will benefit numerous Salvadoran patients and significantly advance our healthcare system,”…

As the Chinese saying goes, “The whole year’s work depends on a good start in spring.” Every March, as spring arrives, China holds the Two Sessions, the annual meetings of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the country’s top legislature, and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body, which set the tone for the country’s policy directions for the year. Far more than procedural gatherings, these meetings serve as both a window through which to gain understanding of, and a door for engaging with, China’s governance and evolving role on the global stage. As a window, the Two Sessions offer a clear view into China’s economic policies, innovative development strategies and diplomatic approaches. The discussions and decisions made during these meetings outline…

Higher Life Expectancy China’s average life expectancy reached 79 years in 2024, a senior health official said on March 9, citing the latest data. The average life expectancy in China increased by 0.4 years from 2023, Lei Haichao, head of the National Health Commission, told the press. In 2024, China’s life expectancy ranked fourth among 53 upper-middle-income countries and 10th among G20 countries, and surpassed the levels of 21 high-income countries, Lei added. He attributed the rise to a series of strategies that prioritize health, including the Healthy China initiative, as well as Chinese people’s healthy lifestyles and the influence of traditional culture. According to Lei, the average life expectancy in eight well-off municipalities and provinces—Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Shandong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Guangdong and Hainan—has exceeded 80 years. He also said…

ARCHITECT WINS WOLF PRIZE On March 10, Xu Tiantian won the Wolf Prize in Architecture for her transformative architectural work in rural China. It is the first time a Chinese architect has won the award. Born in 1975 in Fujian Province, Xu was inspired by the unique layered courtyards and interwoven corridors of traditional buildings in her home region. In 2004, Xu established her firm, DnA (Design and Architecture), dedicated to promoting sustainable rural development. By prioritizing collectivity and communal spaces, and integrating local materials, her work fosters economic, social and cultural transformation in rural areas, paving the way for innovative architectural practices in China. Established in 1978, the Wolf Prize is an international award presented annually by the Wolf Foundation in Israel. It honors outstanding achievements in various fields,…

The world is undergoing profound transformations, with the international governance system evolving in response to new challenges. At the same time, technological advancements and industrial innovations are reshaping national competitiveness and serving as key drivers of global governance modernization. As one of the most significant events in China’s policymaking calendar, the Two Sessions not only set the direction for China’s economic and social development but also offer insights into the country’s approach to international cooperation and technological strategy. It is widely expected by the international society that China will further emphasize key priorities such as innovation-driven growth, digital economy governance, green transformation and public health system development. From an independent perspective, the policy discussions at the Two Sessions reflect China’s commitment to holistic and balanced governance. They also provide indications…

During this year’s Two Sessions (March 4-11), Du Zhanyuan, President of China International Communications Group (CICG) and a member of the Standing Committee of the 14th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee, shared his views on promoting cultural exchange and improving international communication with Beijing Review. Edited excerpts of the interview follow: Beijing Review: China, with a 5-percent GDP growth in 2024, still ranks among the world’s fastest-growing major economies, continuing to contribute about 30 percent to global economic growth. In your view, how can China better explain to the world its governance philosophy and strategies that drive its growth? Du Zhanyuan: While global governance and international cooperation are facing numerous challenges, China’s remarkable transformation, starting from a low base to the world’s second largest economy, coupled with its…

It’s that time of the year again when all eyes turn to Boao, a small former fishing town in China’s southernmost island province of Hainan. From March 25 to 28, the town will host the 2025 Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference, an event at which government officials, heads of international organizations, business leaders and scholars converge to discuss the most pressing issues of the day—and ultimately formulate an Asian vision for shared prosperity. This year’s edition carries the theme Asia in the Changing World: Toward a Shared Future, a call that perfectly captures the spirit of the BFA, which, over the past two decades, has become a kind of mark on the regional growth chart, by which the region gauges its annual progress. Launched in 2002, the forum…