What's the big deal? China's most important annual political meetings, the "Two Sessions," are underway

China has kicked off its most important annual political meetings, commonly known as the “Two Sessions,” or “Lianghui”. The “Two Sessions” are: CPPCC, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, which is the country’s top advisory body; and NPC, National People’s Congress, which is the China’s top legislature body.

More than 5,000 deputies and political advisers converge on Beijing to attend the “Two Sessions,” with the aim to advise and legislate policies that will better the lives of 1.4 billion Chinese people.

Coming from all walks of life with different backgrounds, professions, and areas of specialty, the delegates will propose policy for a wide variety of issues in Chinese people’s life, such as poverty alleviation, environmental protection, health care reform, education reform, and housing, just name a few.

One of the major tasks of the 2018 “Two Sessions” is to elect new state leadership and a new National Committee of the CPPCC. It means a new “line-up” will be formed after the conferences.

This year, one of the top issues for Chinese netizens is anti-corruption, according to a survey conducted by People’s Daily Online. On this matter, the first session of the 13th NPC is expected to deliberate and approve the national supervision law, establish the national supervisory commission, and elect officials of the commission.

Another big deal this year is the new constitutional amendments. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of China has proposed to revise parts of the Constitution.

As 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up, this year’s “Two Sessions” will not only give direction to China’s future development, but also provide a window for the world to learn more about the country.