BEIJING – China faces a difficult year ahead, with slowing economic growth, a shrinking population – and, most importantly, the workforce – turmoil in the markets, and tensions with the United States remaining high. The US presidential campaign will likely see an increase in anti-Beijing sentiment.
How will the ruling Communist Party deal with these challenges? We will be able to get a good handle on policies and methods when the “two sessions” begin in Beijing this week.
The meetings are likely to last about nine days and will see about 5,000 delegates from across the country descend on the Great Hall of the People – the stately building on one side of Tiananmen Square – many wearing the traditional dress of their people. The event is high in pomp and celebration, but also in terms of control: traffic has been redirected and security measures have been significantly tightened.
Political actions will be carefully tailored, as most decisions have already been made by Communist Party leaders in advance, but events give these leaders the opportunity to declare their intentions for the country. They are also being closely watched by outside observers looking for clues about the direction China is headed.
This is especially important this year because the Chinese economy, the world's second largest, is facing difficulties. Li Qiang, the new premier and loyal lieutenant of leader Xi Jinping, is scheduled to present his government's first “work report,” which outlines the Communist Party's growth goal and economic strategy, as well as foreign policies.
