To build a beautiful China, the action of the whole people bursts out with majestic power

The Second Session of the 14th National People's Congress opened in Beijing

Xi Jinping, Wang Huning, Cai Qiding, Xue Xiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng and others were seated on the rostrum

Li Qiang made a report on the work of the government, and Zhao Leji presided over the meeting

Listen to explanations on the draft revision of the Organic Law of the State Council

The second session of the 14th National People's Congress opened at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the morning of the 5th. Nearly 3,000 deputies to the National People's Congress attended the congress with the great trust of the people and performed the sacred duties entrusted by the Constitution and laws.

The atmosphere in the Great Hall of the People was grand and warm, and the national emblem in the center of the rostrum curtain shone brightly against the bright red flag.

Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the presidium of the conference, presided over the meeting. Li Hongzhong, executive chairman of the presidium of the conference, Wang Dongming, Xiao Jie, Zheng Jianbang, Ding Zhongli, Hao Mingjin, Cai Dafeng, He Wei, Wu Weihua, Tie Ning, Peng Qinghua, Zhang Qingwei, Luosang Jiangcun, Shekrat Zakir, and Liu Qi were seated at the executive chair of the rostrum.

Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng and members of the presidium of the conference were seated on the rostrum.

The Second Session of the 14th National People's Congress should be attended by 2,956 deputies. In the meeting on the morning of the 5th, 2,872 people were present and 84 were absent, and the number of attendees met the quorum.

At 9 o'clock in the morning, Zhao Leji announced: The second session of the 14th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China opened. All the participants stood up and sang the national anthem.

According to the agenda of the meeting, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council made a government work report to the conference on behalf of the State Council. The report is divided into three parts: 1. Review of work in 2023, 2. Overall requirements and policy orientation of economic and social development in 2024, and 3. Government work tasks in 2024.

Li Qiang pointed out in the report that the past year has been the first year for the full implementation of the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, and the first year for the current government to perform its duties in accordance with the law. In the face of the extremely complex international environment and the arduous and arduous tasks of reform, development and stability, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core has united and led the people of all ethnic groups across the country to withstand external pressure, overcome internal difficulties, and make arduous efforts to achieve a smooth transition in the prevention and control of the new crown epidemic, achieve a major and decisive victory, successfully complete the main goals and tasks of economic and social development throughout the year, make solid progress in high-quality development, maintain stability in the overall social situation, and take solid steps to build a modern socialist country in an all-round way.

Li Qiang pointed out in the report that over the past year, we have thoroughly studied and implemented the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Second Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee, and in accordance with the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee, we have mainly done the following work: first, to intensify macroeconomic regulation and control and promote the continuous improvement of economic operation; second, to rely on innovation to lead industrial upgrading, and to enhance new momentum for urban and rural development; third, to deepen reform and expand opening up, and continue to improve the business environment; fourth, to strengthen the governance of ecological and environmental protection, and to accelerate the green transformation of development mode; fifth, to focus on ensuring people's livelihood and promoting the development of social undertakings; sixth, to comprehensively strengthen government construction and vigorously improve governance efficiency。

Li Qiang pointed out in the report that while affirming the achievements, we are also soberly aware of the difficulties and challenges we are facing. We must face up to problems and challenges, do our best to do a good job, and never let down the expectations and trust of the people.

Li Qiang pointed out in the report that this year is the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and a key year to achieve the goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan. The main expected targets for this year's development are: GDP growth of about 5 percent; more than 12 million new jobs in urban areas, surveyed urban unemployment rate of about 5.5 percent; consumer price growth of about 3 percent; simultaneous growth of residents' income and economic growth; basic balance of payments in the balance of payments; grain output of more than 1.3 trillion catties; energy consumption per unit of GDP reduced by about 2.5 percent; and the quality of the ecological environment continued to improve.

Li Qiang pointed out in the report that we must persist in seeking progress while maintaining stability, promoting stability with progress, and establishing first and then breaking down. To accomplish this year's development goals and tasks, we must thoroughly implement Xi Jinping's economic thought and focus on promoting high-quality development. It is necessary to deepen reform and opening up with greater determination and intensity, promote a better combination of an effective market and a promising government, continue to stimulate and enhance social vitality, and promote high-quality development to achieve new and greater results.

Li Qiang pointed out in the report that the CPC Central Committee has made a comprehensive plan for this year's work, and we must thoroughly implement it, firmly grasp the main contradictions, strive to break through bottlenecks and constraints, and do a solid job in various tasks: vigorously promote the construction of a modern industrial system and accelerate the development of new quality productive forces; thoroughly implement the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education, and strengthen the basic support for high-quality development; strive to expand domestic demand and promote the realization of a virtuous circle of the economy; unswervingly deepen reform and enhance the endogenous driving force for development; expand high-level opening up to the outside world and promote mutual benefit and win-win results; better coordinate development and security, effectively prevent and resolve risks in key areas; and make unremitting efforts to do a good jobThe "three rural" work will solidly promote the comprehensive revitalization of rural areas, promote urban-rural integration and regional coordinated development, vigorously optimize the economic layout, strengthen the construction of ecological civilization, promote green and low-carbon development, effectively protect and improve people's livelihood, and strengthen and innovate social governance.

In the report, Li Qiang also expounded on strengthening the government's own building, ethnic, religious, and overseas Chinese affairs, national defense and army building, the development of Hong Kong and Macao, and cross-strait relations, as well as China's foreign policy.

According to the agenda of the meeting, the congress reviewed the report of the State Council on the implementation of the 2023 national economic and social development plan and the draft national economic and social development plan for 2024 and the draft national economic and social development plan for 2024, the report of the State Council on the implementation of the central and local budgets for 2023 and the draft central and local budgets for 2024 and the draft central and local budgets for 2024.

Entrusted by the NPC Standing Committee, Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, gave an explanation on the draft revision of the Organic Law of the State Council.

The explanation on the revised draft of the State Council Organic Law points out that the State Council Organic Law is the basic law on the State Council's organizational system and work system, and has played an important role in ensuring that the State Council performs its duties in accordance with the Constitution and law. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core has vigorously promoted the reform process of the Party and state institutions, realized the systematic and holistic reconstruction of the functions of the Party and state institutions, and continuously made new progress and achievements in building a systematic, scientific, standardized and efficient functional system of the Party and state institutions. In order to adapt to the new situation, new tasks and new requirements, it is necessary to revise the Organic Law of the State Council on the basis of conscientiously summarizing practical experience, enshrine important contents such as adhering to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and upholding the overall leadership of the Party in the Organic Law of the State Council, and reflect the spirit and achievements of deepening the reform of Party and state institutions through legal provisions. The revision of the Organic Law of the State Council is an inevitable requirement for the State Council to uphold the party's overall leadership and comprehensively strengthen the construction of the government itself in the new era, an institutional guarantee for the State Council to adhere to the people-centered and the fundamental purpose of serving the people wholeheartedly, an important aspect of comprehensively implementing the Constitution and building a government under the rule of law in the new era, and a powerful measure to deepen the reform of the Party and state institutions and promote the modernization of the national governance system and governance capacity. The revised draft of the Organic Law of the State Council consists of 20 articles, the main contents of which include: adding provisions on the nature and status of the State Council, clarifying the guiding ideology of the State Council's work, improving the expression of the functions and powers of the State Council, improving the relevant provisions on the composition of the State Council, improving the relevant provisions on the organs of the State Council and their functions and powers, improving the meeting system of the State Council, and adding institutional measures for the State Council to fully and correctly perform its functions in accordance with the law.

Also seated on the rostrum were: Ma Xingrui, Wang Yi, Yin Li, Shi Taifeng, Liu Guozhong, Li Ganjie, Li Shulei, He Weidong, He Lifeng, Zhang Youxia, Zhang Guoqing, Chen Wenqing, Chen Jining, Chen Miner, Yuan Jiajun, Huang Kunming, Liu Jinguo, Wang Xiaohong, Wu Zhenglong, Chen Yiqin, Zhang Jun, Ying Yong, Hu Chunhua, Shen Yueyue, Wang Yong, Zhou Qiang, Pagbalha Geleg Langjie, He Houhua, Leung Chun-ying, Battelle, Su Hui, Shao Hong, Gao Yunlong, Chen Wu, Mu Hong, Xianhui, Wang Dongfeng, Jiang Xinzhi, Jiang Zuojun, He Baoxiang, Wang Guangqian, Qin Boyong, Zhu Yongxin, Yang Zhen, and members of the Central Military Commission Liu Zhenli and Zhang Shengmin.

John Lee, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and Ho Iat Seng, Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administrative Region, attended the meeting as observers and took their seats on the rostrum.

CPPCC members attending the Second Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) attended the meeting as observers.

Relevant responsible persons of relevant departments of the central and state organs, relevant units of the People's Liberation Army, the armed police force, and various people's organizations attended or observed the meeting as observers.

Foreign envoys in China attended the meeting.