Everything You Need to Know About China’s Two Sessions

What are the Two Sessions?

They are the annual sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

They are China’s most important political meetings, held every March in Beijing.

This year, the Fifth Session of the 13th NPC will be held from March 5 to 11, and the Fifth Session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee takes place from March 4 to 10.

Why are the Two Sessions so important？

The NPC is China’s top legislature. It is the highest organ for the Chinese people to exercise state power.

The CPPCC National Committee is China’s top political advisory body. The CPPCC is a specialized body for socialist consultative democracy and an important part of the state governance system.

For outsiders, the annual Two Sessions offer a good opportunity to observe China’s development and see democracy and rule of law at work in China’s political system.

Who attend the Two Sessions?

Some 3,000 NPC deputies and more than 2,000 CPPCC National Committee members are in attendance.

The NPC deputies are elected nationwide every five years. Female deputies account for nearly one quarter. All ethnic minorities are represented.

The CPPCC National Committee also serves five-year terms. It’s composed of representatives from all political parties and all layers of society, as well as compatriots from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan, returned overseas Chinese, and specially-invited public figures.

What do NPC deputies do?

The NPC deputies deliberate and pass major laws, decide on major state issues, appoint or remove senior officials of central state organs, and supervise the work of the State Council, the National Supervisory Commission, the Supreme People’s Court, and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate.

The NPC deputies submit motions and are the voices of the people they represent.

What do CPPCC National Committee members do?

The CPPCC National Committee members offer proposals on state affairs. They also sit in on NPC sessions to participate in the discussions on the amendments to laws and on the work reports of the State Council, the Supreme People’s Court, and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate.