NPC's 4th annual session slated for early March

The 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, will kick off its fourth annual full session in Beijing on March 5, according to a decision adopted by the NPC Standing Committee on Saturday. 

Under the decision, the suggested agenda of the next year's annual session included reviewing the draft of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) for national economic and social development, with deliberation of three major draft laws — a draft of the environmental code, a draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress, and a draft law on national development planning.

In China, a draft generally becomes a law after being reviewed three times by the NPC Standing Committee. If a legislative item is closely related to people's interests and fundamental national issues, it will need to deliberated by all NPC members, rather than just being reviewed by the committee.

In addition, routine tasks proposed by the standing committee for the full session's agenda will also include reviewing the annual work reports of the central government, the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court, and the Supreme People's Procuratorate.

Furthermore, Chinese lawmakers are also expected to review the report on the implementation of the annual plan on national economic and social development for 2025 and the draft plan on national economic and social development for 2026, as well as the report on the implementation of the central and local budgets for 2025 and the draft central and local budgets for 2026.

The NPC, the highest organ of State power and the top legislative body in China, is responsible for supervising government and judicial authorities and for making decisions on major State issues, including elections and appointments.

Also on Saturday, the Chairperson's Council meeting of the 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee has suggested that the 14th CPPCC National Committee begin its fourth session on March 4 in Beijing.

The CPPCC, China's top political advisory body, is vital in the country's efforts to promote socialist democracy. Its members — which include scholars and entrepreneurs — advise government, legislative and judicial bodies, and put forward proposals on major issues.

The two sessions, as China's biggest annual political event, usually start in Beijing in early March. National lawmakers and political advisers will gather in Beijing to review the work reports of governmental and judicial authorities. They will also deliberate the country's crucial economic and social issues, as well as participate in formulating or amending laws related to the people's interests and the nation's development.