Discussion on Yanghoe Meeting Date at China's NPC Standing Committee Meeting... Date Not Yet Disclosed

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] The expected dates for the upcoming Two Sessions (National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference) were not disclosed at the 17th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), which was held for the first time using a hybrid format combining in-person and video conferencing. However, since the timing of the NPC plenary session was reviewed and draft amendments to the Waste Pollution Prevention Law?likely to be a major agenda item at the Two Sessions?were intensively discussed, the possibility of the Two Sessions being held soon is gaining momentum.

According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency on the 27th, the 17th meeting of the 13th NPC Standing Committee was held in Beijing as scheduled the previous day. Considering the COVID-19 situation, the meeting was conducted for the first time with a hybrid format, combining on-site attendance and internet video connections. Among the 170 attendees, 47 participated via video conferencing.

During the meeting, the draft amendments to the Solid Waste Environmental Pollution Prevention Law, the draft amendments to the Biosafety Law, the draft amendments to the Copyright Law, and legal adjustments related to the Hainan Free Trade Pilot Zone were intensively discussed. Chinese political circles expect that the issues discussed at this Standing Committee meeting will be the focus at the upcoming Two Sessions. Legislative expert Zi Zhengfeng from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences stated, "As the spread of COVID-19 subsides, these topics, which can provide new stimulus to China's socio-economic development, will be central to discussions at the soon-to-be-held Two Sessions."

The meeting did not announce a specific date for the Two Sessions, which were originally scheduled for early March but postponed due to COVID-19. However, Xinhua News Agency hinted that the timing is becoming clearer by stating, "The NPC Standing Committee reviewed the draft decision on the timing of the NPC plenary session." Bloomberg also suggested the possibility of the Two Sessions being held at the end of next month, leaving open the dates from the 23rd to the 30th.

The declaration of "zero confirmed COVID-19 cases" in Wuhan, Hubei Province?the initial epicenter of the outbreak and the area most severely affected?brings the end of COVID-19 in sight and increases the likelihood of the Two Sessions being held soon.

On the previous day, Chinese state media including China Central Television (CCTV) and Xinhua News Agency extensively reported that all COVID-19 patients in Wuhan hospitals have been discharged, leaving no confirmed cases remaining. Headlines such as "Zero COVID-19 patients in Wuhan hospitals as of April 26" and "Victory in Wuhan" suggested that the end of COVID-19 is near.

Accordingly, if the COVID-19 situation remains stable during this week's Labor Day holiday (May 1?5), expectations for the Two Sessions will likely increase further. With an estimated 90 million domestic tourists during the holiday, many local government education authorities have requested students and parents to refrain from traveling outside their regions to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19. Additionally, the start of in-person classes for third-year high school students in Beijing from this day supports the prospect of COVID-19 ending and the subsequent possibility of holding the Two Sessions. In Beijing, starting with third-year high school students, middle school third-year students will return to school on the 11th of next month, followed by a gradual reopening for other grades.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.