2007 National People's Congress
Encyclopedia
The 5th Plenary Session of the 10th National People's Congress
held its annual meeting from March 5 to March 15, 2007 at the Great Hall of the People
in Beijing
, China
, in conjunction with the 2007 CPPCC. Many items were listed on the agenda for the two-week-long session of the National People's Congress
. 2,937 delegates from every province and municipality attended, along with representatives from the People's Liberation Army
. Among the delegations were those from the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong
and Macau
and a delegation representing Taiwan
. Details on the election of these delegations can be found on the main article on the National People's Congress
. The 2007 Session was chaired by Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo
, with the annual Government Report delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao
. The 2007 Session also set the precedent of allowing foreign journalists to approach and interview any NPC members without restriction. All proposals and resolutions from the session for the first time were fully translated into English. The 2007 NPC formally approved the Property Law of the People's Republic of China
which had been under discussion for the last several years. Shanghai party chief Chen Liangyu
has been suspended and therefore did not participate in the NPC. However, Vice-Premier Huang Ju
, who had been widely speculated in the Hong Kong media and Western sources to have fallen into political disgrace, though reported in the Chinese press as having been in bad health, made an appearance at the opening ceremonies on March 5. Huang genuinely appeared ill.
delivered the working Government Report for the year 2006, and gave a policy outlook for 2007 during the opening session of the NPC on the morning of March 5, 2007. The speech lasted nearly two hours and fifteen minutes, and focused largely on populist issues such as health care
and education
, with an unprecedented tone addressing corruption, waste, and environmental concerns. As in previous years, urban-rural and regional disparities were a common theme. Wen opened saying that this is the last year of the 10th National People's Congress, and thus the government's term will legally expire by March 2008. In his 2007 outlook he stressed various issues of general concern of late.
On domestic policy, Wen focused on problematic issues such as real estate, which in recent years has emerged as an infamous sector for illegal dealings and lack of fairness. Wen guaranteed an increase in low-income housing benefits in the coming year, and vowed a serious crackdown on real estate crime.
Premier Wen went on to focus heavily on the Three Rural Issues
of agriculture, the countryside, and farmers. This particular topic was echoed throughout the speech. He pledged government finances towards building rural infrastructure
and funding towards the development of new technologies. Wen pledged a change in policy towards agricultural insurance, which is almost nonexistent in the current framework. On the topic of rural health care, Wen promised a twofold increase in funding, and vowed that over 80% of the Chinese rural population will receive guaranteed basic health care in the year ahead.
More prominently addressed than in any previous government report were environmental concerns. Wen said that the government will enforce strict environmental standards dictating new construction projects in the coming year. He reinforced the government's position on the protection of land, specifically pointing out that "mansions, golf courses, and lavish government buildings" are not appropriate uses for agricultural land, and cautioned local government and contractors that such things should be avoided.
Wen briefly mentioned the balance being sought by the government between the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries. He stressed the importance of the continued development of the services sector, and the transformation in industry from being simply "large", to becoming "strong".
Another prominent topic of the speech focused on balancing regional disparities. In this area Wen mentioned education as a primary concern. He pledged that in 2007 the central government will completely abolish tuition for rural children (including fees for books and for extracurricular activities) from Kindergarten to Grade 9. Wen also mentioned a fivefold increase in the amount of funding being put towards vocational and post-secondary scholarships, focusing on rural areas. He cited the government's continued focus on training more teachers and educational professionals and increasing the quality of post-secondary education in China, and offered a vision stating "One day, let teachers become the most respected professionals in society".
Wen also pointed out the government's readied stance towards public epidemics and a continued focus towards AIDS
prevention. Wen briefly mentioned the government's continued support towards the development of traditional Chinese medicine
and its important role in health care. He stressed upgraded and more effective urban health care, especially in central and western regions.
As in previous years, Wen mentioned the government's continued support of the One-child Policy
and government benefits for rural families who have difficulties because of the policy. He pledged that local governments and institutions should continue to focus on the teaching of the socialist disgrace and honours system
coined by President Hu Jintao
. He stressed the importance of so-called "cultural reforms", and said the government would continue building literacy and cultural institutions in rural areas. Wen talked about the government's plans to continue building basic sports facilities, and continue preparation work for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Shanghai's Expo 2010
.
In the area of social welfare, Wen pledged a continued evolution towards an effective social insurance
system. To tackle urban unemployment, Wen mentioned the "lowest barrier" where the government will step in and cover basic living costs of victims of job loss. Wen vowed continued vigilance in the matter of safety standards, especially in coal mines, and pledged a tough stance towards commercial scams and fake medicines. Wen also said the local and central governments will continue to be united against organized crime
.
Wen talked extensively about the solid government stance on continued economic reform
. State-owned enterprises will continue their reforms and non-profitable and outdated SOE's will continue to be shut down or replaced by "non-public" institutions. Wen noted the danger of monopolies
, and put forth a proposal for a new set of corporate taxation laws aimed at curbing widespread tax evasion and commercial irregularities. Public banking will continue its extension into rural areas. The Agricultural Bank of China
will continue its reforms as a listed company. Wen noted that reforms in the insurance sector are to take place before it earns an appropriate place in the services sector.
Concerning international trade, Premier Wen focused on attracting foreign investment, specifically to western and northeastern areas who have "just as much developmental potential" as the affluent coast.
In contrast to previous years, Wen extensively outlined governmental flaws, and the urgent need to reform certain governing institutions. The ideas revolved around the premise of "governing for the people, with transparency from government and participation from the people". Wen acknowledged the serious nature and extent of corruption. The Commissions for Discipline Inspection as well as the masses, Wen said, should rally together in combating official corruption. Wen's vision was to make the governmental system "clean, effective, satisfactory, and transparent" in the coming years. He briefly touched on reforming governmental structure, but did not go into specifics. A clear emphasis was drawn from Wen's comments about governmental waste, which "as noted by our people has become a very severe problem". Wen vowed decreases in governmental spending, and warned staunchly against the lavish lifestyles of public officials.
Military affairs were summed up by the slogan "strategic thinking". Wen pledged to continue building the military to modern standards and stated that China will continue to adhere to the One Country, Two Systems
policy and will not violate the high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong
and Macau
. Reminiscent of previous years, the longest period of applause came when he declared that China will remain resolutely opposed to any form of Taiwan's declaration of de jure "independence
." Wen said that the Three Links
and economic integration must continue, and welcomes dialogue from any Taiwanese political party.
On foreign policy, Wen stated that China will continue in its role in the development of a peaceful and harmonious world.
The conclusion of the speech made mention of President Hu Jintao's new Scientific Development Perspectives and the goal of a Harmonious Society.
was formally introduced at the NPC. Vice-Chairman Wang Zhaoguo
told the Congress that the law will "safeguard the fundamental interests of the people", and the law is an attempt at adapting to new "economic and social realities" in China. The bill was first published in 2002. It was subsequently deferred, failed again in its reading at the 2006 National People's Congress
because of a dispute over its contents, and then went through its eighth reading in 2007.
Some press reports have characterized this law as the first piece of legislation in the People's Republic of China to cover an individual's right to own private assets
, although this is incorrect, as the right to private property was written into the PRC Constitution in 2003, and the law itself is directed at defining all forms of property in the PRC.
The law was adopted on March 16, the final day of the two-week session of parliament, with the backing of 96.9% of the 2,889 legislators attending, with 2799 for, 53 against, and 37 abstentions. With his final address to the 2007 Session, NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo
declared "the Private Property Law and the Corporate Taxation Law are two of the most important laws in the new economic system of Socialism with Chinese characteristics; we must attempt to learn these laws fully through various methods."
to the Congress, asking for compensation.
Lawmakers also banned Internet cafe
usage by minors, a large number of whom are allegedly addicted
.
Delegate Jian Deming put forth a proposal for a "dog tax", a deterrent for pet owners, in an apparent attempt to curb the ongoing spread of rabies
.
In 2007, Premier Wen Jiabao
had to answer a series of sensitive questions involving China's increased military spending, the road to democracy, the Dalai Lama, and even a question about disgraced former Premier Zhao Ziyang
. When answering a question from a reporter from the Wall Street Journal, Wen said China would like to reduce its trade surplus, but reassured the United States that the current trade imbalance will not destabilize U.S. currency values. Wen recognized the systematic problems facing the Chinese economic system. Wen reiterated the official stance that China is opposed to the weaponization of space, and that the Chinese military build-up is purely for domestic rather than for offensive purposes. On the issue of the Dalai Lama, Wen said China's government is open to dialogue with the 14th Dalai Lama
as long as he gives up efforts for Tibetan independence. In reply to a question about democracy from a French reporter, Wen reiterated the age-old CCP maxim that "different states have different backgrounds, therefore democracy must be achieved based on different timelines". Wen did concede, however, that more democracy is required in the current system to combat rising corruption.
On the subject of Taiwan independence
, the tone maintained the harsh rhetoric against the current administration on the island led by Chen Shui-bian
while attempting not to alienate the Taiwanese electorate in general. During the two-week session, Wen was careful to add the words "de jure
independence" (法理独立) as opposed to simply "independence" when referring to Taiwan. During the Press Conference, Wen also reiterated that the PRC government was in favour of perfecting the Three Links
, amongst other economic and cultural ties.
In an unprecedented move, Wen began the press conference with a direct appeal to the people by reading a letter from a primary school student, subsequently voicing his concern about China's current social imbalance.
10th National People's Congress
The 10th National People's Congress was in session from 2003 to 2008. It held five plenary sessions in this period. There are 2,985 deputies to this Congress.-The 1st Plenary Session:The First Plenary Session was held in 2003...
held its annual meeting from March 5 to March 15, 2007 at the Great Hall of the People
Great Hall of the People
The Great Hall of the People is located at the western edge of Tiananmen Square, Beijing, People's Republic of China, and is used for legislative and ceremonial activities by the People's Republic of China and the Communist Party of China. It functions as the People's Republic of China's...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, in conjunction with the 2007 CPPCC. Many items were listed on the agenda for the two-week-long session of the National People's Congress
National People's Congress
The National People's Congress , abbreviated NPC , is the highest state body and the only legislative house in the People's Republic of China. The National People's Congress is held in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China; with 2,987 members, it is the...
. 2,937 delegates from every province and municipality attended, along with representatives from the People's Liberation Army
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
. Among the delegations were those from the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
and a delegation representing Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. Details on the election of these delegations can be found on the main article on the National People's Congress
National People's Congress
The National People's Congress , abbreviated NPC , is the highest state body and the only legislative house in the People's Republic of China. The National People's Congress is held in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China; with 2,987 members, it is the...
. The 2007 Session was chaired by Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo
Wu Bangguo
Wu Bangguo is a high-ranking politician in the People's Republic of China. He is currently Chairman and Party secretary of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, a position that makes him China's chief legislator...
, with the annual Government Report delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao
Wen Jiabao
Wen Jiabao is the sixth and current Premier and Party secretary of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, serving as China's head of government and leading its cabinet. In his capacity as Premier, Wen is regarded as the leading figure behind China's economic policy...
. The 2007 Session also set the precedent of allowing foreign journalists to approach and interview any NPC members without restriction. All proposals and resolutions from the session for the first time were fully translated into English. The 2007 NPC formally approved the Property Law of the People's Republic of China
Property Law of the People's Republic of China
The Property Law of the People's Republic of China is a property law adopted by the National People's Congress in 2007 that went into effect on October 1, 2007...
which had been under discussion for the last several years. Shanghai party chief Chen Liangyu
Chen Liangyu
Chen Liangyu was a politician of the People's Republic of China from the ruling Communist Party, and the disgraced CPC Shanghai Committee Secretary, or the city's first-in-charge....
has been suspended and therefore did not participate in the NPC. However, Vice-Premier Huang Ju
Huang Ju
Huang Ju was the Executive Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China. He joined the Communist Party of China in March 1966. He was ranked 6th out of 9, and was one of the least popular and most partisan members of the Politburo Standing Committee of the Party...
, who had been widely speculated in the Hong Kong media and Western sources to have fallen into political disgrace, though reported in the Chinese press as having been in bad health, made an appearance at the opening ceremonies on March 5. Huang genuinely appeared ill.
Government report
Premier Wen JiabaoWen Jiabao
Wen Jiabao is the sixth and current Premier and Party secretary of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, serving as China's head of government and leading its cabinet. In his capacity as Premier, Wen is regarded as the leading figure behind China's economic policy...
delivered the working Government Report for the year 2006, and gave a policy outlook for 2007 during the opening session of the NPC on the morning of March 5, 2007. The speech lasted nearly two hours and fifteen minutes, and focused largely on populist issues such as health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
and education
Education in the People's Republic of China
Education in the People's Republic of China is a state-run system of public education run by the Ministry of Education. All citizens must attend school for at least nine years. The government provides primary education for six years, starting at age six or seven, followed by six years of secondary...
, with an unprecedented tone addressing corruption, waste, and environmental concerns. As in previous years, urban-rural and regional disparities were a common theme. Wen opened saying that this is the last year of the 10th National People's Congress, and thus the government's term will legally expire by March 2008. In his 2007 outlook he stressed various issues of general concern of late.
On domestic policy, Wen focused on problematic issues such as real estate, which in recent years has emerged as an infamous sector for illegal dealings and lack of fairness. Wen guaranteed an increase in low-income housing benefits in the coming year, and vowed a serious crackdown on real estate crime.
Premier Wen went on to focus heavily on the Three Rural Issues
Three Rural Issues
The Three Rural Issues, or San Nong , refers to three issues relating to rural development in mainland China. Specifically, these issues are agriculture, rural areas and peasants...
of agriculture, the countryside, and farmers. This particular topic was echoed throughout the speech. He pledged government finances towards building rural infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
and funding towards the development of new technologies. Wen pledged a change in policy towards agricultural insurance, which is almost nonexistent in the current framework. On the topic of rural health care, Wen promised a twofold increase in funding, and vowed that over 80% of the Chinese rural population will receive guaranteed basic health care in the year ahead.
More prominently addressed than in any previous government report were environmental concerns. Wen said that the government will enforce strict environmental standards dictating new construction projects in the coming year. He reinforced the government's position on the protection of land, specifically pointing out that "mansions, golf courses, and lavish government buildings" are not appropriate uses for agricultural land, and cautioned local government and contractors that such things should be avoided.
Wen briefly mentioned the balance being sought by the government between the primary, secondary, and tertiary industries. He stressed the importance of the continued development of the services sector, and the transformation in industry from being simply "large", to becoming "strong".
Another prominent topic of the speech focused on balancing regional disparities. In this area Wen mentioned education as a primary concern. He pledged that in 2007 the central government will completely abolish tuition for rural children (including fees for books and for extracurricular activities) from Kindergarten to Grade 9. Wen also mentioned a fivefold increase in the amount of funding being put towards vocational and post-secondary scholarships, focusing on rural areas. He cited the government's continued focus on training more teachers and educational professionals and increasing the quality of post-secondary education in China, and offered a vision stating "One day, let teachers become the most respected professionals in society".
Wen also pointed out the government's readied stance towards public epidemics and a continued focus towards AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
prevention. Wen briefly mentioned the government's continued support towards the development of traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
and its important role in health care. He stressed upgraded and more effective urban health care, especially in central and western regions.
As in previous years, Wen mentioned the government's continued support of the One-child Policy
One-child policy
The one-child policy refers to the one-child limitation applying to a minority of families in the population control policy of the People's Republic of China . The Chinese government refers to it under the official translation of family planning policy...
and government benefits for rural families who have difficulties because of the policy. He pledged that local governments and institutions should continue to focus on the teaching of the socialist disgrace and honours system
Ba rong ba chi
The Ba rong ba chi , officially the Core Value System or the Eight Honours and Disgraces, is a set of moral concepts developed by current General Secretary Hu Jintao for the citizens of the People's Republic of China. It is also known as "Eight Virtues and Shames", or "Hu Jintao’s Eight-Step...
coined by President Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao
Hu Jintao is the current Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China. He has held the titles of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China since 2002, President of the People's Republic of China since 2003, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission since 2004, succeeding Jiang...
. He stressed the importance of so-called "cultural reforms", and said the government would continue building literacy and cultural institutions in rural areas. Wen talked about the government's plans to continue building basic sports facilities, and continue preparation work for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and Shanghai's Expo 2010
Expo 2010
Expo 2010, officially Expo 2010 Shanghai China was held on both banks of the Huangpu River in the city of Shanghai, China, from May 1 to October 31, 2010. It was a major World Expo in the tradition of international fairs and expositions, the first since 1992...
.
In the area of social welfare, Wen pledged a continued evolution towards an effective social insurance
Social insurance
Social insurance is any government-sponsored program with the following four characteristics:* the benefits, eligibility requirements and other aspects of the program are defined by statute;...
system. To tackle urban unemployment, Wen mentioned the "lowest barrier" where the government will step in and cover basic living costs of victims of job loss. Wen vowed continued vigilance in the matter of safety standards, especially in coal mines, and pledged a tough stance towards commercial scams and fake medicines. Wen also said the local and central governments will continue to be united against organized crime
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
.
Wen talked extensively about the solid government stance on continued economic reform
Chinese economic reform
The Chinese economic reform refers to the program of economic reforms called "Socialism with Chinese characteristics" in the People's Republic of China that were started in December 1978 by reformists within the Communist Party of China led by Deng Xiaoping.China had one of the world's largest...
. State-owned enterprises will continue their reforms and non-profitable and outdated SOE's will continue to be shut down or replaced by "non-public" institutions. Wen noted the danger of monopolies
Monopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
, and put forth a proposal for a new set of corporate taxation laws aimed at curbing widespread tax evasion and commercial irregularities. Public banking will continue its extension into rural areas. The Agricultural Bank of China
Agricultural Bank of China
Agricultural Bank of China Limited , also known as AgBank, is one of the "Big Four" banks in the People's Republic of China. It was founded in 1951, and has its headquarters in Beijing...
will continue its reforms as a listed company. Wen noted that reforms in the insurance sector are to take place before it earns an appropriate place in the services sector.
Concerning international trade, Premier Wen focused on attracting foreign investment, specifically to western and northeastern areas who have "just as much developmental potential" as the affluent coast.
In contrast to previous years, Wen extensively outlined governmental flaws, and the urgent need to reform certain governing institutions. The ideas revolved around the premise of "governing for the people, with transparency from government and participation from the people". Wen acknowledged the serious nature and extent of corruption. The Commissions for Discipline Inspection as well as the masses, Wen said, should rally together in combating official corruption. Wen's vision was to make the governmental system "clean, effective, satisfactory, and transparent" in the coming years. He briefly touched on reforming governmental structure, but did not go into specifics. A clear emphasis was drawn from Wen's comments about governmental waste, which "as noted by our people has become a very severe problem". Wen vowed decreases in governmental spending, and warned staunchly against the lavish lifestyles of public officials.
Military affairs were summed up by the slogan "strategic thinking". Wen pledged to continue building the military to modern standards and stated that China will continue to adhere to the One Country, Two Systems
One country, two systems
"One country, two systems" is an idea originally proposed by Deng Xiaoping, then Paramount Leader of the People's Republic of China , for the reunification of China during the early 1980s...
policy and will not violate the high degree of autonomy in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
. Reminiscent of previous years, the longest period of applause came when he declared that China will remain resolutely opposed to any form of Taiwan's declaration of de jure "independence
Taiwan independence
Taiwan independence is a political movement whose goals are primarily to formally establish the Republic of Taiwan by renaming or replacing the Republic of China , form a Taiwanese national identity, reject unification and One country, two systems with the People's Republic of China and a Chinese...
." Wen said that the Three Links
Three Links
The Three Links or Three Linkages was a "message of Compatriots in Taiwan" calling for the unification of mainland China and Taiwan. It was sent by the PRC National People's Congress in 1979....
and economic integration must continue, and welcomes dialogue from any Taiwanese political party.
On foreign policy, Wen stated that China will continue in its role in the development of a peaceful and harmonious world.
The conclusion of the speech made mention of President Hu Jintao's new Scientific Development Perspectives and the goal of a Harmonious Society.
Property Law
On March 8, the Property Law of the People's Republic of ChinaProperty Law of the People's Republic of China
The Property Law of the People's Republic of China is a property law adopted by the National People's Congress in 2007 that went into effect on October 1, 2007...
was formally introduced at the NPC. Vice-Chairman Wang Zhaoguo
Wang Zhaoguo
Wang Zhaoguo is a Chinese politician who came to prominence during the era of Deng Xiaoping. At age 41 he had already acquired a ministerial position job.-Biography:...
told the Congress that the law will "safeguard the fundamental interests of the people", and the law is an attempt at adapting to new "economic and social realities" in China. The bill was first published in 2002. It was subsequently deferred, failed again in its reading at the 2006 National People's Congress
2006 National People's Congress
The 4th Plenary Session of the 10th National People's Congress was held in Beijing, China, in conjunction with the 2006 CPPCC. Many items were listed on the agenda for the two-week-long session of the National People's Congress. 2,937 delegates from every province, municipality, and Special...
because of a dispute over its contents, and then went through its eighth reading in 2007.
Some press reports have characterized this law as the first piece of legislation in the People's Republic of China to cover an individual's right to own private assets
Property law
Property law is the area of law that governs the various forms of ownership in real property and in personal property, within the common law legal system. In the civil law system, there is a division between movable and immovable property...
, although this is incorrect, as the right to private property was written into the PRC Constitution in 2003, and the law itself is directed at defining all forms of property in the PRC.
The law was adopted on March 16, the final day of the two-week session of parliament, with the backing of 96.9% of the 2,889 legislators attending, with 2799 for, 53 against, and 37 abstentions. With his final address to the 2007 Session, NPC Chairman Wu Bangguo
Wu Bangguo
Wu Bangguo is a high-ranking politician in the People's Republic of China. He is currently Chairman and Party secretary of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, a position that makes him China's chief legislator...
declared "the Private Property Law and the Corporate Taxation Law are two of the most important laws in the new economic system of Socialism with Chinese characteristics; we must attempt to learn these laws fully through various methods."
Corporate Tax Law
The other major economic law that was passed unified the tax rates of foreign and domestic corporations at 25%.Other significant events
A letter was sent from people who were victims of Mao's Anti-Rightist MovementAnti-Rightist Movement
The Anti-Rightist Movement of the People's Republic of China in the 1950s and early 1960s consisted of a series of campaigns to purge alleged "rightists" within the Communist Party of China and abroad...
to the Congress, asking for compensation.
Lawmakers also banned Internet cafe
Internet cafe
An Internet café or cybercafé is a place which provides internet access to the public, usually for a fee. These businesses usually provide snacks and drinks, hence the café in the name...
usage by minors, a large number of whom are allegedly addicted
Computer addiction
Computer addiction is a loosely used term for the excessive use of computers to the extent that it interferes with daily life. Excessive use may explain problems in social interaction, mood, personality, work ethic, relationships, thought processes, or sleep deprivation.The Diagnostic and...
.
Delegate Jian Deming put forth a proposal for a "dog tax", a deterrent for pet owners, in an apparent attempt to curb the ongoing spread of rabies
Rabies
Rabies is a viral disease that causes acute encephalitis in warm-blooded animals. It is zoonotic , most commonly by a bite from an infected animal. For a human, rabies is almost invariably fatal if post-exposure prophylaxis is not administered prior to the onset of severe symptoms...
.
Premier's press conference
Chinese leaders rarely give interviews or hold open press conferences, and their appearances, regardless of circumstance, are usually heavily scripted. One of the few times open press conferences are held is immediately following the National People's Congress session every year.In 2007, Premier Wen Jiabao
Wen Jiabao
Wen Jiabao is the sixth and current Premier and Party secretary of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, serving as China's head of government and leading its cabinet. In his capacity as Premier, Wen is regarded as the leading figure behind China's economic policy...
had to answer a series of sensitive questions involving China's increased military spending, the road to democracy, the Dalai Lama, and even a question about disgraced former Premier Zhao Ziyang
Zhao Ziyang
Zhao Ziyang was a high-ranking politician in the People's Republic of China . He was the third Premier of the People's Republic of China from 1980 to 1987, and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China from 1987 to 1989....
. When answering a question from a reporter from the Wall Street Journal, Wen said China would like to reduce its trade surplus, but reassured the United States that the current trade imbalance will not destabilize U.S. currency values. Wen recognized the systematic problems facing the Chinese economic system. Wen reiterated the official stance that China is opposed to the weaponization of space, and that the Chinese military build-up is purely for domestic rather than for offensive purposes. On the issue of the Dalai Lama, Wen said China's government is open to dialogue with the 14th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai Lama
The 14th Dalai Lama is the 14th and current Dalai Lama. Dalai Lamas are the most influential figures in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, although the 14th has consolidated control over the other lineages in recent years...
as long as he gives up efforts for Tibetan independence. In reply to a question about democracy from a French reporter, Wen reiterated the age-old CCP maxim that "different states have different backgrounds, therefore democracy must be achieved based on different timelines". Wen did concede, however, that more democracy is required in the current system to combat rising corruption.
On the subject of Taiwan independence
Taiwan independence
Taiwan independence is a political movement whose goals are primarily to formally establish the Republic of Taiwan by renaming or replacing the Republic of China , form a Taiwanese national identity, reject unification and One country, two systems with the People's Republic of China and a Chinese...
, the tone maintained the harsh rhetoric against the current administration on the island led by Chen Shui-bian
Chen Shui-bian
Chen Shui-bian is a former Taiwanese politician who was the 10th and 11th-term President of the Republic of China from 2000 to 2008. Chen, whose Democratic Progressive Party has traditionally been supportive of Taiwan independence, ended more than fifty years of Kuomintang rule in Taiwan...
while attempting not to alienate the Taiwanese electorate in general. During the two-week session, Wen was careful to add the words "de jure
De jure
De jure is an expression that means "concerning law", as contrasted with de facto, which means "concerning fact".De jure = 'Legally', De facto = 'In fact'....
independence" (法理独立) as opposed to simply "independence" when referring to Taiwan. During the Press Conference, Wen also reiterated that the PRC government was in favour of perfecting the Three Links
Three Links
The Three Links or Three Linkages was a "message of Compatriots in Taiwan" calling for the unification of mainland China and Taiwan. It was sent by the PRC National People's Congress in 1979....
, amongst other economic and cultural ties.
In an unprecedented move, Wen began the press conference with a direct appeal to the people by reading a letter from a primary school student, subsequently voicing his concern about China's current social imbalance.
Media response
- China DailyChina DailyThe China Daily is an English language daily newspaper published in the People's Republic of China.- Overview :China Daily was established in June 1981 and has the widest print circulation of any English-language newspaper in the country...
, an English newspaper based in China, ran the headlines "Premier vows to support education". - The Daily TelegraphThe Daily TelegraphThe Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
called Wen's speech an "unusually populist" move which attacked corrupt officials and focused on health and education. - Bloomberg L.P.Bloomberg L.P.Bloomberg L.P. is an American privately held financial software, media, and data company. Bloomberg makes up one third of the $16 billion global financial data market with estimated revenue of $6.9 billion. Bloomberg L.P...
's Andy Mukherjee commented that "Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's speech at this year's meeting of the country's largely symbolic legislature broke little new ground."
See also
- History of the People's Republic of China (2002-present)History of the People's Republic of China (2002-present)The People's Republic of China became more influential economically in the 1990s and 2000s and was beginning to be widely recognized as an emerging superpower. In 2010, China became the world's second largest economy. At the same time, numerous social problems emerged and intensified...
- National People's CongressNational People's CongressThe National People's Congress , abbreviated NPC , is the highest state body and the only legislative house in the People's Republic of China. The National People's Congress is held in the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, capital of the People's Republic of China; with 2,987 members, it is the...