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China, Trump’s visit and the priority for this year’s ‘two sessions’
Beijing sees self-reliant tech growth as vital to innovation, spokesman for top legislature says, noting country will safeguard ‘red lines’
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Vanessa Caiin Shanghai
China will focus on economic resilience as lawmakers gather in Beijing for the country’s annual legislative session – just days before US President Donald Trump touches down in the Chinese capital.
Lou Qinjian, spokesman for the National People’s Congress, outlined the NPC’s agenda on Wednesday, taking the opportunity to also stress that China will not compromise on core principles in dealing with the United States.
The NPC will run for eight days from Thursday, and during the gathering, China’s policymakers are expected to set the country’s agenda for the year.
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One of the top priorities is to finalise the 15th five-year plan for development, a pivotal period for Beijing to gain a stronger footing amid heightened geopolitical tensions and a global tech race.
The meeting runs in parallel with the annual gathering of the top political advisory body – events that together are known as the “two sessions”.
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They are features of the Chinese political calendar but this year they could be overshadowed by the war in the Middle East. Military strikes by the US and Israel killed the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, raising questions about regional security and challenging the world’s energy markets.
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