2009 National People's Congress

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  • 2009 National People's Congress
  • 第十一届全国人民代表大会第二次会议
  • Dì-shíyī Jiè Quánguó Rénmín Dàibiǎo Dàhuì Dì-èrcì Huìyì
  • 2nd Plenary Session of the
  • 11th National People's Congress

  • 5 March – 13 March
President Premier Congress Chairman
Hu Jintao Cannes2011.jpg Wen Jiabao - Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2012.jpg Wu Bangguo Beijing2011.jpg
Hu Jintao Wen Jiabao Wu Bangguo
since
15 March 2003		 since
16 March 2003		 since
15 March 2003
Website
2009 NPC official website

The 2nd Session of the 11th National People's Congress was the annual meeting of the highest legislative body of the People's Republic of China, which was held in March 2009 at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The event began on March 5 and lasted until March 13. [1] The Congress was followed closely because of the possible impact any policy changes would have on the Chinese and world economy. Major issues discussed at the Congress include the 2007–2008 financial crisis, economy of China, curbing unemployment, and social welfare.

Contents

Highlights of the Congress included Premier Wen Jiabao's expression of confidence in the growth of China's economy in 2009, conciliatory remarks towards Taiwan from Beijing, NPC Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo's reiteration that China will not adopt Western-style democracy, and Wen's expressed doubts about U.S. treasury securities. The main issues raised by delegates included a strategy to adopt to face the current economic slowdown, the ways to continue to improve population's life standards (jobs, health), and continue efforts against corruption.

Background

The 2009 NPC took place alongside the 2009 session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a political advisory body with little practical power. In recent years, however, there has been a marked rise in the amount of debate within both bodies. It took place during the Great Recession, the first such crisis of this proportion China has faced since economic liberalization under Deng Xiaoping in 1978. A day prior to the Congress, the government announced a 14.9% increase in the Chinese defense budget, 3% less than the previous year. There was also speculation of the unveiling of another stimulus package, which affected trading on global stock markets on March 4. [2] The event's timeline was shortened because of the 2007–2008 financial crisis.

The session

Agenda

The agenda for this year's NPC consisted of: [3]

Premier's Work Report

The Premier, Wen Jiabao, delivered the annual Government Work Report on March 5, 2009. This annual speech details the government's policy and legislative agenda for the past and coming year (roughly analogous to the State of the Union address and Throne Speeches in some other countries). While acknowledging the Great Recession, Wen declared that China would aim for a GDP growth of 8% in the coming year. Wen revealed that the central government deficit hovers around 750 billion yuan ($US109.63 billion), 570 billion yuan more than last year. The total deficit will amount to 950 billion yuan ($US139 billion) as local governments plan to issue 200 billion yuan worth of government bonds. Although this is a relatively large deficit by Chinese standards, it only accounts for less than 3% of the GDP. [4]

Wen pointed to improvements in cross-strait relations between mainland China and Taiwan, and declared that the two sides have entered a "peaceful period". [5] He remarked that new agreements on economic cooperation will be signed in the coming year. To address reconstruction after the deadly Sichuan earthquake in May 2008, the central government will allocate 130 billion yuan to accelerate recovery in hard-hit areas in Sichuan province. In health care reform, Wen stressed that governments at all levels will allocate an additional 850 billion yuan in the next three years, including 331.8 billion yuan directly from the central government.

NPC Standing Committee Work Report

The Chair of the NPC, Wu Bangguo, delivered his report on the work of the National People's Congress over the past year. He spoke on the continuing reconstruction of the Sichuan earthquake and progress of relief work, and empathized with the victims. On the economy, he touched on the slowing economy due to the Great Recession, increased unemployment and risk to social stability if proper oversight is not increased in areas of food safety, standards and reporting. [6] [7]

The NPC standing committee chairman also stressed oversight of the economic stimulus package through the legislature, increased domestic consumption, and upgrading industry and competitiveness in this difficult economic period. [8]

Wu also stated China cannot indiscriminately copy western political concepts such as multi-party governance, separation of powers namely the executive, legislative and judicial branch, or turning the NPC into a bicameral system. [9] China's political reforms rest with improving and developing the socialist political system which includes the NPC. [10]

President of the Supreme People's Court Work Report

China's top judicial official, Wang Shengjun reported the continuing efforts to educate judges on judicial work ethic and root out corruption. [11] Wang mentioned judicial corruption severely undermined the credibility of the judicial system and led to social repercussions. [11]

A total of 712 judicial officials from courts throughout China were prosecuted for violations of the laws in 2008, Wang said. Out of the 712, 105 faced criminal prosecutions. [11] He indicated, in 2008, the Supreme People's Court dealt with over 10,000 cases, up nearly 30 percent from 2007. Local courts processed over 10 million cases, up nearly 11 percent. [12] [13]

Prosecutor General's Work Report

China's Prosecutor-General Cao Jianming stated the central government will step up the inspection of prisons, with more resources and surprise checks, to prevent inmates from being bullied or tortured. [14] The main points that came up from Cao's work report are: [15]

Cai acknowledge in 2008, the total number of arrest came up to 952,583 suspects for numerous crimes and 1,143,897 were prosecuted. This was an increase of 3.5 percent and 5.7 percent from the last year. [15]

Efforts against corruption

There were 33,546 cases relating to corruption, misconduct and violation on people's human rights investigated. This involved 41,179 people. The total prosecuted were 33,953 people involved in 26,684 such cases. Out of the total there were 17,594 serious corruption cases, 3,211 major cases of misconduct and violations on people's human rights, and 2,687 officials at all levels of public office. [15]

The prosecutor general also indicated 10,315 cases of commercial bribery committed by government officials were investigated. This involved a total sum of more than 2.1 billion yuan. [15]

Premier's press conference

On March 13 Premier Wen Jiabao held the annual NPC press conference to a gallery of domestic and international reporters. Wen remarked that the 2007–2008 financial crisis was an extraordinary situation. [16] China has over half of its estimated $2 trillion of foreign exchange holdings in United States Treasury securities and other U.S. government debt and Wen remarked, "We have lent a huge amount of money to the U.S. Of course we are concerned about the safety of our assets. To be honest, I am definitely a little worried." Wen asked the U.S. to "maintain its good credit, to honor its promises and to guarantee the safety of China's assets". [17] In particular, Wen was confident that China's economy would continue to grow at a rate of 8% in 2009. [16] Wen played down speculation that the 1.18 trillion Yuan of central government stimulus is not completely directed to new investments, and that the government was ready to make new stimulus plans if need be in the future. [18] Wen also mentioned his aspiration to visit Taiwan.

Voting results

Resolutions

TopicForAgainstAbstainRate
Premier Wen Jiabao's Government Work Report2,824422297.78%
Report on the Implementation of the 2008 National Economic and Social Development Plan and the 2009 Draft Plan2,6691457191.56%
Report on the Execution of the Central and Local Budgets for 2008 and on the Draft Central and Local Budgets for 20092,44031512484.75%
Chairman Wu Bangguo's NPCSC Work Report2,721996894.22%
Chief Justice Wang Shengjun's Supreme People's Court Work Report2,17251919275.34%
Procurator-General Cao Jianming's Supreme People's Procuratorate Work Report2,21050516276.82%

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References

  1. ↑ "Top legislature to convene annual session on March 5 next year". Xinhua News Agency. December 27, 2008. Archived from the original on March 22, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  2. ↑ "Yes, prime minister". The Economist. March 5, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  3. ↑ "Agenda of Second Session of 11th National People's Congress". Xinhua News Agency. March 4, 2009. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  4. ↑ Hongjiang, Wang (March 5, 2009). "Highlights of Premier Wen's gov't work report". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  5. ↑ Chang, Emily (March 5, 2009). "China's economy, Taiwan top Wen's address". CNN . Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  6. ↑ "Highlights of NPC Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo's work report". Xinhua News Agency. March 9, 2009. Archived from the original on March 14, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  7. ↑ "Top legislator: Milk scandal prompts Chinese parliament's revision of draft law". Xinhua News Agency. March 9, 2009. Archived from the original on March 13, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  8. ↑ "Chinese leaders: Crisis also means opportunity". People's Daily. March 8, 2009. Archived from the original on March 14, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  9. ↑ "Top legislator: China will never copy Western political system". Xinhua News Agency. March 9, 2009. Archived from the original on March 13, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  10. ↑ "Top legislator stresses differences between Chinese, Western political systems". Xinhua News Agency. March 9, 2009. Archived from the original on March 13, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  11. 1 2 3 Yang, Fang (March 12, 2009). "China strives to weed out judicial corruption". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on March 22, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  12. ↑ "Top judge, prosecutor-general deliver reports". China Daily. March 11, 2009. Archived from the original on March 22, 2009. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  13. ↑ Zhe, Zhu (March 11, 2009). "Courts handle record number of cases in 2008". China Daily . Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  14. ↑ Chuanjiao, Xie (March 13, 2009). "Inspection of prisons to be intensified". China Daily . Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  15. 1 2 3 4 "Highlights of report on Supreme People's Procuratorate". Xinhua News Agency. March 10, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  16. 1 2 McDonald, Joe (March 13, 2009). "China 'worried' about US Treasury holdings". Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 17, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  17. ↑ Wines, Michael (March 13, 2009). "China's Leader Says He Is 'Worried' Over U.S. Treasuries". The New York Times . Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  18. ↑ Demick, Barbara (March 14, 2009). "Chinese leader expresses concern about investments in U.S." Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2009-03-18.[ dead link ]
Preceded by Annual National People's Congress Sessions of the
People's Republic of China
March, 2009		Succeeded by
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