by Park Sunmi
Published 15 Apr.2020 15:34(KST)
Updated 15 Apr.2020 20:39(KST)
[Asia Economy Beijing=Special Correspondent Park Sun-mi] Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the Lianghui (Two Sessions - the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference), China's largest political event which was postponed for the first time since the reform and opening-up in 1978, is expected to be held soon.
On the 15th, China's state-run media Global Times reported that among experts in China, there is a growing opinion that the Lianghui will likely be held in Beijing between May and June.
For the national-level Lianghui to be held in Beijing, the local government-level Lianghui must be held first. Recently, local governments that had postponed their meetings due to the spread of COVID-19 have been announcing their meeting schedules one after another.
Wenzhou City in Zhejiang Province announced that it will hold the Lianghui on the 21st and 22nd of this month. Also, Hangzhou City in Zhejiang Province revealed plans to hold the Lianghui at the end of this month. As of the 13th, out of 1,267 COVID-19 patients in Zhejiang Province, 1,242 have been discharged, indicating that the spread of COVID-19 is calming down. Economist Xu Hongchai from the China Center for International Economic Exchanges explained, "Because China has won the battle against the COVID-19 virus, local Lianghui meetings across the country are about to be held."
The fact that local governments are confirming school reopening schedules one after another also reflects the judgment that the COVID-19 situation has stabilized, so there is no longer any reason for local governments to postpone the Lianghui. Among the 31 provincial-level administrative regions on the Chinese mainland, except for Hubei Province, 30 provinces and municipalities have confirmed their school reopening schedules. Beijing will also begin phased school reopening by grade starting on the 27th of this month.
Urban planning management expert Luo Yameng expects the national Lianghui to be held in late May or June. Zhou Dewen, chairman of the Zhejiang Private Investment Enterprises Association, stated that with special quarantine measures in place, holding the national Lianghui in early May is also possible.
The exact date of the Lianghui is expected to be outlined by the end of this month. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress is scheduled to be held in Beijing in late this month, and it is possible that the date of the Lianghui will be announced then.
A diplomatic source in Beijing said, "Attention should be paid to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress scheduled for late this month regarding whether the Lianghui will be held," adding, "If the Lianghui is to be held soon, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress is likely to announce the date of the Lianghui." He explained, "Typically, about a month before the Lianghui, the agenda and other discussion topics are notified to participants, and related information is also published by the Standing Committee."
China convened the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on February 24 and announced the postponement of the NPC originally scheduled to open on March 5. At that time, while only the possibility of postponing the Lianghui was raised, the Standing Committee clearly stated immediately after the meeting, "The NPC was postponed to ensure the life, health, and safety of the people." However, only the postponement was confirmed, and no specific date for the Lianghui was announced.
Meanwhile, on the 14th, China reported 46 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in one day. Among the new confirmed cases, 36 were imported from overseas. The number of asymptomatic infections currently stands at 1,023, including 57 newly reported cases. China's cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases total 82,295, with 3,342 deaths.
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