The once-a-year meeting of China’s national legislature kicks off Wednesday with all eyes on China’s growth-target projections and military-spending plans. The gathering of the National People’s Congress at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People usually doesn’t generate much drama by itself. As the congress put it in a guide for reporters, “no new laws or major law amendments are expected to be put before the legislators this year, and there will be no outstanding personnel changes for voting.” Still, the congress — which goes by the English shorthand NPC — provides China’s top leaders with a platform to sketch out their economic and policy goals for the year. Some of them appear at rare – if carefully managed – press conferences. Enterprising reporters might even catch key officials as they come and go from meetings or duck out for bathroom breaks. Some major points of interest will be: China’s economic growth target for 2014: Last year, China held fast to a growth target of “about 7.5%,” then just eked past it with 7.7% growth for 2013. Most economists believe Beijing will stick to the 7.5% rate but that it will become harder meet that target as the country’s economy matures. China’s military spending: Last year China increased its defense budget by 10.7% amid rising regional tensions with Japan and with Southeast Asian national over their overlapping South China Sea claims. This year tensions have heightened even further after Japan’s prime minister visited a controversial shrine. Another ramp up would be further signs of China’s desire to flex its muscles regionally. Financial reform: Any hints that China will ease capital controls, liberalize interest rates or make its currency more freely convertible. Experts don’t expect broad moves from the NPC. Social services: China may ramp up spending to address growing public demands for health care, better education, bigger pensions and other services. Corruption: Chinese leaders are in the midst of a broad-ranging campaign against graft and waste. Austerity for officials is likely to be a message reinforced repeatedly. In the past, Chinese have combed online news photos of delegates pointing out their expensive clothes and accessories. This year they’ve been instructed to eschew fancy banquets and tchotchkes. National security: Don’t expect it to be on the formal agenda, but leaders might let something slip following the deadly weekend knife attack in Kunming. |
中國(guó)人民政治協(xié)商會(huì)議第十二屆全國(guó)委員會(huì)第二次會(huì)議3月3日在北京人民大會(huì)堂召開。一年一度的國(guó)家立法機(jī)關(guān)會(huì)議3月5日拉開序幕。所有人都密切關(guān)注著對(duì)于中國(guó)經(jīng)濟(jì)增長(zhǎng)的預(yù)測(cè)和軍費(fèi)支出計(jì)劃。 在北京人民大會(huì)堂進(jìn)行的人民代表大會(huì)本身不會(huì)有任何的戲劇性。正如記者指南所說:“今年沒有新的法律或者法律修正案需要代表修訂,也沒有需要投票決定的重大人事變動(dòng)。” 然而,全國(guó)人民代表大會(huì)--用英語速記法可以簡(jiǎn)寫為NPC--為中國(guó)的高層領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人提供了一個(gè)可以概述本年度經(jīng)濟(jì)和政策的平臺(tái)。如果仔細(xì)安排,在一些罕見的情況下,一些高層領(lǐng)導(dǎo)也會(huì)出現(xiàn)在新聞發(fā)布會(huì)上。在會(huì)議過程中,一些重要官員進(jìn)進(jìn)出出或者去上廁所,這時(shí),一些有魄力的記者甚至能碰到他們。 一些重要的看點(diǎn)將會(huì)是: 2014年中國(guó)的經(jīng)濟(jì)增長(zhǎng)目標(biāo):去年,中國(guó)堅(jiān)持“7.5%左右”的經(jīng)濟(jì)發(fā)展目標(biāo)。2013年經(jīng)濟(jì)增長(zhǎng)勉強(qiáng)維持在7.7%的水平。大多數(shù)的經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家相信,今年北京仍然會(huì)堅(jiān)持7.5%的增長(zhǎng)率,然而,隨著中國(guó)經(jīng)濟(jì)走向成熟,這個(gè)目標(biāo)將會(huì)更加難以實(shí)現(xiàn)。 中國(guó)的軍費(fèi)開支:去年,中國(guó)與日本地區(qū)緊張局勢(shì)不斷上升,與東南亞國(guó)家關(guān)于南海重疊區(qū)域領(lǐng)土爭(zhēng)端愈演愈烈,國(guó)防預(yù)算增加了10.7%。今年,在日本首相參拜靖國(guó)神社之后,地區(qū)局勢(shì)更加緊張。中國(guó)產(chǎn)能的提升也是其想要在亞洲大展拳腳的重要標(biāo)志。 金融改革:一些跡象暗示,中國(guó)將要放松資本管制,放開利率或者提高貨幣的自由兌換。專家指出,不要指望人代會(huì)會(huì)做出大刀闊斧的改革。 社會(huì)服務(wù):中國(guó)可能會(huì)加大支出來滿足公眾對(duì)于衛(wèi)生保健,優(yōu)質(zhì)教育,豐厚養(yǎng)老金以及其他社會(huì)服務(wù)的需求。 腐敗:中國(guó)領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人正在開展大范圍的打擊貪污和浪費(fèi)的活動(dòng)。官員的樸素作風(fēng)很可能是不斷強(qiáng)調(diào)的品質(zhì)。過去,中國(guó)人經(jīng)常會(huì)搜索新聞和圖片指出官員昂貴的服裝以及飾品。今年這些官員被要求避開昂貴的宴請(qǐng)和這些小玩意兒。 國(guó)家安全:不要期待這會(huì)在正式議程上討論,然而在上周昆明發(fā)生暴力襲擊之后,領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人可能會(huì)采取一些措施。 (譯者 劉鳳偉 編輯 丹妮) |