2008 National People's Congress
Encyclopedia
The 1st Plenary Session of the 11th
National People's Congress
held its annual meeting from March 5 to March 18, 2008 in the Great Hall of the People
in Beijing
, China
, in conjunction with the 2008 CPPCC
.
The 10 day plenum elected China's new government leaders. Up for confirmation for a second term were President Hu Jintao
and Premier Wen Jiabao
. The State Council went through important personnel and structural changes following the 17th Party Congress
. Zeng Qinghong
's Vice-Presidency came to an end and the position was taken by Xi Jinping
. Three new Vice-Premiers were confirmed and took office, with rising star Li Keqiang
ranking first in this group.
. Several ministries were consolidated to form super ministries. The several "superministries"
The state council will also create the National Energy Commission which will oversee national energy strategy, security and development. While the National Development and Reform Commission will continue to control the administration and regulation of the energy sector.
The State Food and Drug Administration will be incorporated and come under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health. Therefore the Health ministry will take over the responsibility for food and drug safety.
The People's Bank of China will increase its coordination role between all the financial executive agencies, namely the National Development and Reform Commission and the Finance ministry.
held a press conference on March 18, 2008. He introduced the new Vice-Premiers, Li Keqiang
, Hui Liangyu, Zhang Dejiang
and Wang Qishan
. Wen addressed the direction of the government in the next five years. He also addressed the ongoing Tibetan protests. Wen asserted that the Dalai Lama
was "masterminding" the protests in Tibet. Wen said that 2008 could be a very difficult year for the Chinese economy because of both international and domestic reasons.
11th National People's Congress
The 11th National People's Congress is in session from 2008 to 2013. It is scheduled to hold five plenary sessions in this period, occurring around early March every year. There are 2,985 deputies to this Congress.-The 1st Plenary Session:...
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...
held its annual meeting from March 5 to March 18, 2008 in 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
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, in conjunction with the 2008 CPPCC
Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [], shortened as 人民政协, Rénmín Zhèngxié, i.e. "People's PCC"; or just 政协, Zhèngxié, i.e. "The PCC"), abbreviated CPPCC, is a political advisory body in the People's Republic of China...
.
The 10 day plenum elected China's new government leaders. Up for confirmation for a second term were 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...
and 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 State Council went through important personnel and structural changes following the 17th Party Congress
17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China
The 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China was held in Beijing, China, at the Great Hall of the People from 15 to 21 October 2007. The Congress marked significant shift in the political direction of the country as CPC General Secretary Hu Jintao solidified his position of leadership...
. Zeng Qinghong
Zeng Qinghong
Zeng Qinghong was the Vice-President of the People's Republic of China from 2003 to 2008. He became a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee during the 2002 16th Party Congress. Although he was formally ranked fifth in the nine PSC...
's Vice-Presidency came to an end and the position was taken by Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping
Xi Jinping is a high ranking politician of the People's Republic of China. He currently serves as the top-ranking member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China, the country's Vice President, Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, President of the Central Party School and the...
. Three new Vice-Premiers were confirmed and took office, with rising star Li Keqiang
Li Keqiang
Li Keqiang is the First-ranking Vice-Premier and deputy Party secretary of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, the seventh ranked member of the Politburo Standing Committee, the People's Republic of China's de facto highest decision-making body...
ranking first in this group.
Government Report
Premier Wen Jiabao delivered the government report on March 5, 2008, reviewing the work from the past five years. The main points that come out of the report were- Rebuilding of snowstorm hit areas in Southern China. Rebuild power, communications and water infrastructure in Hunan, Anhui, Guangdong, Sichuan and Hebei.
- Control of inflation and maintain price stability for basic necessities, food and essential commodities.
- Regulation of excessive investments in fixed assets.
- Education reforms which include free nine years of education and education initiatives to assist with the rural regions.
- Increase resources towards energy conservation, more efficient technologies and reduction of emissions.
State Council Reform
A massive reform took place in China's cabinet, the State Council of the People's Republic of ChinaState Council of the People's Republic of China
The State Council of the People's Republic of China , which is largely synonymous with the Central People's Government after 1954, is the chief administrative authority of the People's Republic of China. It is chaired by the Premier and includes the heads of each governmental department and agency...
. Several ministries were consolidated to form super ministries. The several "superministries"
| New Ministry | Legacy depts | Areas of Responsibility | New sub agencies reporting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Industry and Information | National Development and Research Commission (NDRC) the Commission of Science Technology and Industry for National Defense Ministry of Information Industry State Council Information Office State Tobacco Monopoly Bureau | Internet Mobile Telecom Landline Telecom Postal Services Internet Security | State Postal Bureau |
| Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security | Ministry of Personnel Ministry of Labour and Social Security | Employment Social Services | State Bureau of Civil Servants |
| Ministry of Environmental Protection | State Environmental Protection Administration | Environmental Protection Enforcement | n/a |
| Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Construction | Ministry of Construction | Housing Rural Urban | n/a |
| Ministry of Transport | Ministry of CommunicationsCivil Aviation Administration of China Civil Aviation Administration of China The Civil Aviation Administration of China , formerly the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China , is the aviation authority under the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China. It oversees civil aviation and investigates aviation accidents and incidents... |
Road Transport Air Transport Water safety and Shipping | State Civil Aviation Bureau |
The state council will also create the National Energy Commission which will oversee national energy strategy, security and development. While the National Development and Reform Commission will continue to control the administration and regulation of the energy sector.
The State Food and Drug Administration will be incorporated and come under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health. Therefore the Health ministry will take over the responsibility for food and drug safety.
The People's Bank of China will increase its coordination role between all the financial executive agencies, namely the National Development and Reform Commission and the Finance ministry.
Election results
| NPCSC Chairman Election | NPCSC Secretary-general Election | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidates | For | Against | Abstain | Candidates | For | Against | Abstain |
| 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...  |
2,948 | 9 | 9 | Li Jianguo Li Jianguo Li Jianguo is a politician of the People's Republic of China, and former Party chief of Shaanxi and Shandong Provinces... |
2,932 | 25 | 8 |
| Presidential Election | Vice-Presidential Election | ||||||
| Candidates | For | Against | Abstain | Candidates | For | Against | Abstain |
| 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... |
2,956 | 3 | 5 | Xi Jinping Xi Jinping Xi Jinping is a high ranking politician of the People's Republic of China. He currently serves as the top-ranking member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of China, the country's Vice President, Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission, President of the Central Party School and the... |
2,919 | 28 | 17 |
| CMC Chairmanship Election | Premiership Nomination | ||||||
| Candidates | For | Against | Abstain | Candidates | For | Against | Abstain |
| 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... |
2,959 | 4 | 4 | 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... |
2,926 | 21 | 12 |
| Supreme Court President Election | Procurator-general Election | ||||||
| Candidates | For | Against | Abstain | Candidates | For | Against | Abstain |
| Wang Shengjun Wang Shengjun Wang Shengjun became elected President of the Supreme People's Court of the People's Republic of China in March 2008.-Biography:He joined the Communist Party of China in 1972.... |
2,885 | 36 | 44 | Cao Jianming Cao Jianming Cao Jianming is the Procurator-General of the Supreme People's Procuratorate of the People's Republic of China.-Biography:He received his LL.B and LL.M degrees from East China University of Political Science and Law in 1983 and 1986.... |
2,933 | 16 | 17 |
- No other candidates formally stood for these positions, although votes were cast for other write-in candidateWrite-in candidateA write-in candidate is a candidate in an election whose name does not appear on the ballot, but for whom voters may vote nonetheless by writing in the person's name. Some states and local jurisdictions allow a voter to affix a sticker with a write-in candidate's name on it to the ballot in lieu...
s.
Premier's Press Conference
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...
held a press conference on March 18, 2008. He introduced the new Vice-Premiers, Li Keqiang
Li Keqiang
Li Keqiang is the First-ranking Vice-Premier and deputy Party secretary of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, the seventh ranked member of the Politburo Standing Committee, the People's Republic of China's de facto highest decision-making body...
, Hui Liangyu, Zhang Dejiang
Zhang Dejiang
Zhang Dejiang is a current Vice-Premier and a prominent leader of the Communist Party of China, a member of its Politburo.-Biography:Zhang, a native of Tai'an, Liaoning, attended Yanbian University, where he studied the Korean language. Beginning in August 1978 Zhang attended Kim Il-sung...
and Wang Qishan
Wang Qishan
Wang Qishan is a politician in the People's Republic of China who currently serves as the Vice-Premier in charge of economic, energy and financial affairs under premier Wen Jiabao. Previously Wang served in regional positions in Hainan and Beijing...
. Wen addressed the direction of the government in the next five years. He also addressed the ongoing Tibetan protests. Wen asserted that the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
was "masterminding" the protests in Tibet. Wen said that 2008 could be a very difficult year for the Chinese economy because of both international and domestic reasons.