Reporter's Diary: 'People first' and major decisions

Domestic issues took center stage at the final event of the 2018 Two Sessions, with Premier Li Keqiang emphasizing that the Chinese government takes a “people first” approach after a very consequential two and a half weeks of voting and deliberating in Beijing.

Speaking in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People, Premier Li was flanked by his four new vice premiers – none of whom spoke – as he outlined plans to improve healthcare and pensions as well as mitigate financial risk.

President Xi Jinping earlier told National People's Congress (NPC) deputies that the Chinese people have “great dreams,” stressed the importance of unity and praised his countrymen’s spirit in a speech closing the first session of the 13th NPC.

Darting from the first floor to third, and dodging the stream of deputies departing the Great Hall during a livestream in between, we arrived at the Golden Hall just in time to hear the premier take questions. 

Li gestured emphatically as he reiterated that a trade war with the US would benefit neither side, promised to slash tariffs, and said that in the 40th year of reform and opening up China would increase market access yet further.

It cannot only be China opening the door, however, he stressed: "Like rowing a boat, opening up is a two-way movement entailing mutual efforts."

The premier also caught the ear of overseas journalists with the Two Sessions’ second mysterious reference to cheese, following Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s assurance that “China will not move anyone’s cheese” in the context of relations with Latin America.

The vice premiers listened intently to Li, and NPC session spokesman Zhang Yesui shared an occasional quiet joke with new vice-premier Hu Chunhua as new top financial adviser Liu He looked on.   

The press conference wrapped up the Two Sessions and frequently referred back to the government work report, delivered by Li way back on March 5 and adopted by the NPC early on Tuesday morning.

The premier didn’t reflect on all of the major decisions of China’s political season, however, many of which will have consequences for years to come.

The far-reaching restructuring of the government is designed to result in a more streamlined decision-making process, while the adoption of the new supervision law on Tuesday morning and creation of a National Supervision Commission will see the high profile anti-corruption campaign extended.

The constitutional amendments have already attracted attention, and the personnel changes in China’s state leadership are likely to continue to do so as more is learned about the new ministerial team and the direction they will take their departments in.  

The elections of Xi Jinping as president and Wang Qishan as vice-president, as well as the appointment of Yi Gang as the People’s Bank of China governor, will no doubt bring continuity – but observers will watch for subtle changes the newcomers may contribute.

The 2018 Two Sessions ended with smiles from Li, waving and grinning as he strode from the stage after concluding a two-and-a-half-week political season that put in motion major changes for China.