The Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress

The Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress opens in Beijing

Xi Jinping, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng and others take their seats on the rostrum

Li Qiang delivers a Government Work Report; Zhao Leji presides over the session

The Draft Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan is reviewed

Explanations on the Draft Environmental Code, the Draft Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, and the Draft Law on National Development Planning Are Heard

On March 5, the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Party and state leaders Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng and others attended the session.（Xinhua/Xie Huanchi）
 

BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) opened on the morning of March 5 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. NPC deputies, shouldering the great trust of the people, attended the session to fulfill the sacred duties entrusted to them by the Constitution and laws.

The atmosphere in the 10,000-seat auditorium of the Great Hall of the People was solemn and enthusiastic. The national emblem, hanging in the center of the rostrum curtain, shone brightly against the backdrop of bright red flags.

On the morning of March 5, the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.（Xinhua/Wang Ye）

Zhao Leji, Executive Chairman and Member of the Standing Committee of the Presidium of the Session, presided over the opening meeting. Li Hongzhong, Wang Dongming, Xiao Jie, Zheng Jianbang, Ding Zhongli, Cai Dafeng, He Wei, Wu Weihua, Tie Ning, Peng Qinghua, Zhang Qingwei, Losang Jamcan, Shohrat Zakir, and Liu Qi, all Executive Chairmen and Members of the Standing Committee of the Presidium, took their seats at the executive chairman's seats on the rostrum.

Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng, and members of the Presidium of the Session took their seats on the rostrum.

A total of 2,878 deputies were supposed to attend the Fourth Session of the 14th NPC. At the morning session on March 5, 2,765 deputies were present and 113 were absent, with the number of attendees meeting the quorum requirement.

On the morning of March 5, the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Zhao Leji presided over the opening meeting.（Xinhua/Shen Hong）

At 9 a.m., Zhao Leji announced: "The Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China is now open." All those present stood up and sang the national anthem in unison.

On the morning of March 5, the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Premier Li Qiang of the State Council delivered a government work report.（Xinhua/Huang Jingwen）

In accordance with the session's agenda, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council, on behalf of the State Council, delivered a government work report to the session. The report consists of four parts: I. Review of Work in 2025; II. Major Goals and Key Tasks for the 15th Five-Year Plan Period; III. Overall Requirements and Policy Orientations for Economic and Social Development in 2026; IV. Government Work Tasks for 2026.

In his report, Li Qiang pointed out that 2025 was an extraordinary year. Faced with profound and complex changes in the domestic and international situations, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core united and led the people of all ethnic groups across the country to rise to challenges and strive hard, unswervingly implement the new development philosophy, promote high-quality development, and coordinate both domestic and international priorities. The main goals and tasks for economic and social development throughout the year were successfully accomplished, the 14th Five-Year Plan came to a successful conclusion, and Chinese-style modernization made new solid strides.

Li Qiang noted in the report that we have thoroughly studied and implemented Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implemented the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress and all plenary sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and acted in accordance with the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee. Over the past year, we have mainly carried out the following work: first, implementing more proactive and effective macro policies to stabilize economic performance; second, adhering to innovation-driven development and building a modern industrial system; third, further deepening reform and opening up to unblock the national economic cycle; fourth, coordinating the advancement of new urbanization and all-round rural revitalization to promote coordinated development between urban and rural areas and among regions; fifth, earnestly ensuring people's livelihoods and actively developing social undertakings; sixth, accelerating the building of a Beautiful China and promoting green and low-carbon development; seventh, continuously strengthening government building and innovating and improving social governance.

Li Qiang pointed out in the report that over the past five years, new major achievements have been made in the cause of the Party and the country, and a good start has been made on the new journey toward the Second Centenary Goal. The 20 major indicators, 17 key strategic tasks in 17 areas, and 102 major engineering projects set out in the Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan have all been successfully completed.

Li Qiang pointed out in the report that in accordance with the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, the State Council has formulated the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China (Draft), which is submitted to the session for examination. To implement the main goals set forth in the Central Committee's Recommendations, the Outline (Draft) specifies 20 major indicators. It elaborates on the major strategic tasks for the development of the 15th Five-Year Plan period by field, highlighting four priorities: 1. High-quality development; 2. Strengthening the domestic economic cycle; 3. Advancing common prosperity for all people; 4. Ensuring coordinated development and security. To ensure the implementation of the goals and tasks of the 15th Five-Year Plan, taking into account strategic importance, driving effect and continuity, the Outline (Draft) puts forward 109 major projects in six areas.

In his report, Li Qiang stated that the main projected development targets for this year are as follows: Economic growth of 4.5%–5%, with efforts to achieve better results in actual work; Urban surveyed unemployment rate of around 5.5%, and more than 12 million new urban jobs created; Increase in consumer prices of around 2%; Growth in personal income basically keeping pace with economic growth; Basic balance in international payments; Grain output of around 1.4 trillion jin; A cut of around 3.8% in carbon dioxide emissions per unit of GDP.

In his report, Li Qiang stated that the Party Central Committee has made comprehensive arrangements for this year’s work. We must fully implement these arrangements and earnestly carry out all tasks: Strive to build a strong domestic market; Step up efforts to foster and expand new growth drivers; Accelerate efforts to achieve greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology at a high level; Continue to deepen reforms in key areas; Further expand high-level opening up; Solidly advance the all-round revitalization of rural areas; Promote new urbanization and coordinated regional development; Strengthen efforts to ensure and improve people’s wellbeing; Accelerate the comprehensive green transition; Strengthen the prevention and defusing of risks in key areas and the development of security capacity.

In the report, Li Qiang also elaborated on strengthening the government’s self-improvement, work related to ethnic groups, religion and overseas Chinese affairs, the modernization of national defense and the armed forces, the development of Hong Kong and Macao, cross-Strait relations, as well as China’s foreign policy.

In accordance with the agenda of the session, the congress examines the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, the State Council’s report on the implementation of the 2025 plan for national economic and social development and the 2026 draft plan, as well as the 2026 draft plan for national economic and social development, the State Council’s report on the 2025 central and local budget execution and the 2026 draft central and local budgets, as well as the 2026 draft central and local budgets.

Entrusted by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), Li Hongzhong, Vice Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, respectively delivered explanations on the draft Environmental Code, the draft Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, and the draft National Development Planning Law.

The explanation on the draft of the Environmental Code points out that codifying the Environmental Code, which codifies the theoretical, institutional, and practical achievements of ecological civilization construction since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and improves the legal system for ecological and environmental protection, is of great and far-reaching significance. The guiding ideology for codifying the Environmental Code is as follows: We must adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, deeply understand the decisive significance of the "Two Establishments," the "Four Consciousnesses," strengthen the "Four Confidences," and the "Two Upholds". We must thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and all plenary sessions of the 20th Central Committee, uphold the organic unity of the Party's leadership, the people's position as masters of the country, and law-based governance. We must closely focus on advancing the Five-sphere Integrated Plan in a coordinated manner and implementing the Four-pronged Comprehensive Strategy in a coordinated way. We must focus on building a more complete legal system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and a higher-level socialist country under the rule of law. We must summarize practical experience, adapt to the requirements of the times, and simultaneously promote high-quality development and high-level protection. We will comprehensively and systematically compile and revise China's current legal systems, mechanisms, rules, and norms in ecological and environmental protection, including pollution prevention and control, ecological conservation, and green and low-carbon development. This will result in an Environmental Code that is guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, especially Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, features Chinese characteristics, reflects the characteristics of the times, embodies the will of the people, and is systematic, standardized, and coordinated. This code will provide a sound legal guarantee for ecological and environmental protection to fully build a great modern socialist country, achieve the Second Centenary Goal, and comprehensively advance the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernization. According to the explanation, the draft consists of 5 parts and 1,242 articles. The parts are, in order: General Provisions, Pollution Prevention and Control, Ecological Conservation, Green and Low-carbon Development, Legal Liabilities, and Supplementary Provisions.

The explanation on the Draft Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress points out that implementing the decisions and plans of the Party Central Committee, grounding ourselves in the historical position of the Party’s ethnic work in the new era, and fully implementing the provisions, principles and spirit of the Constitution, the enactment of this Law is of great significance. It lays a solid legal foundation for forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation and advancing the building of the Chinese nation community. It is also crucial for comprehensively advancing the cause of ethnic unity and progress, and for rallying the people of all ethnic groups across the country to strive in unity for building a great modern socialist country and realizing national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization. The legislation adheres to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. It thoroughly studies and implements Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, Xi Jinping Thought on Culture, and General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important thought on strengthening and improving ethnic work. It fully implements the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and all plenary sessions of the 20th Central Committee. It earnestly summarizes the historic achievements and successful experience in ethnic work since the 18th National Congress. Taking forging a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation as the main line, it promotes high-quality development of the cause of ethnic unity and progress. The draft adopts a structure of "Preamble + 7 Chapters" and consists of a total of 64 articles.

The explanation on the Draft Law on National Development Planning points out that by earnestly summarizing the successful experience in national development planning work accumulated over a long period of time, enacting the Law on National Development Planning will clarify the guiding ideology, principles and concepts that national development planning work must adhere to. It will also make comprehensive and systematic provisions on the specific procedures for the formulation, review and approval, implementation, and supervision of national development plans, thereby providing strong institutional guarantees for the scientific formulation and effective implementation of national development plans on the track of the rule of law. The legislation adheres to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly implements the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and all plenary sessions of the 20th Central Committee. It adheres to the people-centered approach, fully, accurately and comprehensively implements the new development philosophy, summarizes the successful experience in national development planning work over the years, especially since the new era. Based on the Constitution, it establishes time-tested practices as legal norms, strives to raise the level of law-based governance in national development planning work, gives better play to the strategic guiding role of national development plans, and leverages the strengths of China's national system and governance efficiency. The draft is divided into 6 chapters with a total of 38 articles.

Also seated on the rostrum were Wang Yi, Yin Li, Shi Taifeng, Liu Guozhong, Li Ganjie, Li Shulei, He Lifeng, Zhang Guoqing, Chen Wenqing, Chen Jining, Chen Min'er, Yuan Jiajun, Huang Kunming, Liu Jinguo, Wang Xiaohong, Zhang Shengmin, Wu Zhenglong, Shen Yiqin, Zhang Jun, Ying Yong, Hu Chunhua, Shen Yueyue, Wang Yong, Zhou Qiang, Pagbalha Geleg Namgyai, He Houhua, Liang Zhenying, Bater, Su Hui, Shao Hong, Gao Yunlong, Mu Hong, Xian Hui, Wang Dongfeng, Jiang Xinzhi, Jiang Zuojun, He Baoxiang, Wang Guangqian, Qin Boyong, Zhu Yongxin, Yang Zhen, and other leading comrades.

John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Sam Hou Fai, Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, attended the meeting as non-voting delegates and took their seats on the rostrum.

Members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee attending the Fourth Session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee also attended the session as non-voting delegates.

Leading officials from relevant departments of central and state organs, relevant units of the People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force, and various people's organizations attended the session as non-voting delegates or observers.

Foreign diplomatic envoys to China observed the session.