The 12th NPC and CPPCC Convene in Beijing

The annual sessions of the National Peoples Congress （NPC） – Chinas top legislature – and the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference（CPPCC） – Chinas top political advisory body – convened in early March. The countrys two most important political events centered this year on deepening reforms and advancing modernization of Chinas governance system and capability. Premier Li Keqiang summarized reform goals for 2014 as detailed in the government work report to the NPC： “Comprehensively deepening reforms， constantly expanding opening-up， driving development through innovation， and keeping to the new path of industrialization， IT applications， urbanization and agricultural modernization with distinctive Chinese features， accelerating transformation of the growth model， structural adjustments and industrial upgrading， strengthening development of the basic public service system， and ensuring and improving peoples wellbeing.”The report also highlighted the governments determination to combat corruption， promote people-centered urbanization， close the wealth gap， create new jobs， and other livelihood issues of broad concern， such as food security， old-age care， education， healthcare and housing.