China: Congress: The National People's Congress meeting

Описание: (15 Mar 2001) Natural Sound

The National People's Congress, China's Parliament, closed its annual session on Thursday after two weeks of policy discussion on issues including China's social and economic development over the next five years.

Congressmen in Beijing voted to adopt plans aimed at improving China's legal system and creating further economic reform.

The economic plan assumes 7 per cent annual growth rate for China over the next five years.

Beijing reiterated the need for opening the economy further, and leaders said more structural reform would be required to solve the problems posed by the country's impending entry into the World trade Organisation ( WTO).

At this years annual meet, there was also tough talking on the crackdown on Falun Gong, and the congress renewed its determination to tackle corruption

But the most important issues of in this meeting are not being discussed out in the open.

Chinese officials are stepping up efforts to push for a smooth transition of the Communist Party's leadership next year.

Jiang is expected to step down as party chief then and be succeeded by Vice-President Hu Jintao at the next 16th Communist Party's meeting
next year, according the plan decided by the late paramount leader Deng Xiaoping.

Premier Zhu Rongji and Li Peng, no 2 in the Communist Party are also expected to step down as well.

With the eyes of the world on the country's potential future leaders, this years congress has provided a good venue for gauging the political atmosphere among the Chinese communist party members.

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