China’s 2022 “Two Sessions”: What Are the Highlights?
中国2022年“两会”有哪些亮点？
Ambassador in Gambia Ma Jianchun
驻冈比亚马建春大使
2022年3月22日
22 March 2022
From 4th to 11th March, the “Two Sessions” – China’s most important annual political gatherings – were held in Beijing. The term “Two Sessions” refers to the yearly plenary meetings of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), which are China’s top legislature and top political advisory body respectively.
3月4日至11日，中国政治生活中的年度大事“两会”在北京胜利召开。
The Two Sessions draws wide attention from both China and abroad, as it serves as an important window to look into China development, covering a wide range of topics concerning China’s domestic affairs and foreign policies. The practice of Two Sessions also demonstrates how China’s democracy works. The following is some key information drawn from the 2022 Two Sessions.
两会是观察中国的重要窗口，议题和议程涵盖中国经济社会发展、内政外交等方方面面，是中国全过程人民民主的生动实践。今年两会有以下方面值得关注：
A Review of the Past and a Blueprint for the Future
一、回顾过去，展望未来
The Two Sessions looked back at the past extraordinary year. The year 2021 witnessed the grand celebration of the CPC’s centenary, China’s victory in the critical battle against poverty, and China’s achieving its first centenary goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. China’s 14th Five-Year Plan also achieved a good start. China has begun a new journey toward its second centenary goal of building a modern socialist country in all respects.
两会对极不平凡的2021年进行了回顾。这一年，我们隆重庆祝中国共产党成立一百周年，胜利召开中国共产党十九届六中全会，如期打赢脱贫攻坚战，全面建成小康社会、实现第一个百年奋斗目标，开启全面建设社会主义现代化国家、向第二个百年奋斗目标进军新征程。
In 2021, China continued to implement routine measures to prevent resurgences of COVID-19. Over 85 percent of China’s population have been fully vaccinated. Local outbreaks were put under control in an effective and quick manner. These efforts ensured the health and safety of the people.
一年来，中国落实疫情常态化防控举措，疫苗全程接种覆盖率超过85%，及时有效处置局部地区聚集性疫情，保障了人民生命安全和身体健康。
In 2021, China pursued economic and social development in a well-coordinated way. China’s GDP growth rate reached 8.1 percent, so was Chinese people’s per capita disposable income. China’s total volume of trade in goods grew by 21.4 percent, and China’s economic structure and regional development continued to be optimized.
中国国内生产总值、居民人均可支配收入均增长8.1%，货物进出口总额增长21.4%，经济结构和区域布局继续优化。
In 2021, China’s technological innovation capacity was further strengthened. Major breakthroughs were made in manned spaceflight, resource exploration, energy projects and other areas. Integration of digital technology in the real economy was accelerated.
中国创新能力进一步增强，载人航天、火星探测、资源勘探、能源工程等领域实现新突破，数字技术与实体经济加速融合。
All these achievements were made under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the sound guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, and the concerted efforts of all Chinese people.
过去一年取得的成绩，是以习近平同志为核心的党中央坚强领导的结果，是习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想科学指引的结果，是全党全军全国各族人民团结奋斗的结果。
The year 2022 is of great significance in the cause of the CPC and the country, as the CPC will hold its 20th National Congress. China has set a target of GDP growth rate for 2022 at 5.5 percent. China will continue to carry out effective measures to control COVID-19, and pursue higher-standard opening up. At the Two Sessions, China’s lawmakers and political advisors from across the nation pooled their wisdom into those topics, and reached wide consensus for China’s future development.
2022年，中国共产党将召开第二十次全国代表大会。中国设定了国内生产总值增长5.5%左右的目标，将统筹疫情防控和经济社会发展，全面贯彻新发展理念，加快构建新发展格局，扩大高水平对外开放，推动高质量发展。
A Practice of Whole-process People’s Democracy
二、全过程人民民主的生动实践
Democracy is a common value of humanity and an ideal that has always been cherished by the CPC and the Chinese people. China has built a unique model of democracy named Whole-process people’s democracy. It involves well-coordinated and comprehensive institutional procedures serving to put into place diverse, open, and well-organized democratic channels to ensure that the government’s policies and the state will are integrated with the people’s aspirations. The Two Sessions demonstrates how the whole-process people’s democracy works.
民主是全人类的共同价值，是中国共产党和中国人民始终不渝坚持的重要理念。在中国，国家各项制度都是围绕人民当家作主构建的，国家治理体系都是围绕实现人民当家作主运转的。中国的民主是全过程人民民主，它具有完整的制度程序，形成了全面、广泛、有机衔接的人民当家作主制度体系，构建了多样、畅通、有序的民主渠道。两会正是全过程人民民主的生动实践。
At the Two Sessions, nearly 3,000 NPC deputies (China’s top legislators) met and practiced their power in accordance with the law. They deliberated various legislative items, and approved the government work report and a few other crucial reports. They raised a total number of 487 proposals and over 8,000 suggestions, covering a variety of topics including technological innovation, green development, education reform, public health service improvement, and so forth. NPC deputies also took their responsibilities in responding to public concerns, bridging between the people and the government, and building consensus.
两会期间，全国人大代表依法行使权力，会议审议批准了政府工作报告和其他报告，表决通过了一系列决定。人大代表提出议案487件、建议等约8000件，聚焦科技创新、绿色发展、乡村振兴、教育改革、医疗服务等经济社会发展重点难点问题建言献策。人大代表积极担当作为，回应社会关切、传递民情民意、凝聚发展共识。
At the Two Sessions, around 2,000 members of the CPPCC National Committee (China’s political advisors) gathered and held in-depth consultation on China’s economic progress and social affairs. They also sit in on NPC sessions to participate in the discussions on the amendments to laws, and on the government work report and other key reports. This mechanism ensures that all the people can play a part in overseeing the work of the government.
两会期间，政协全体委员围绕党和国家中心工作深入协商议政。政协委员们还列席全国人大会议，参加对有关法律修改、“一府两院”工作报告等的讨论。这样的制度安排真正实现了让人人起来负责、人人监督政府工作。
The practice of Two Sessions demonstrates that, China has translated democratic values into effective institutions and concrete actions. Whole-process people’s democracy is a model that covers all aspects of the democratic process and all sectors of society. It is a true democracy that works.
两会实践证明，中国全过程人民民主不仅有完整的制度程序，而且有完整的参与实践，是最广泛、最真实、最管用的民主。
A Clear Manifestation of Foreign Policy
三、外交政策的郑重宣示
During the Two Sessions, China’s State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi answered questions from the media about China’s foreign policy and external relations. He made it clear that, China as a responsible major country, would continue to hold high the banner of multilateralism, work with all peace-loving and development-seeking countries to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, and continue to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
两会期间，国务委员兼外交部长王毅就中国外交政策和对外关系回答中外记者提问。王毅表示，作为负责任大国，中国将继续高举多边主义旗帜，同所有爱好和平、谋求发展的国家一道，加强团结合作，携手应对挑战，持续推动构建人类命运共同体，努力为世界开辟光明和美好的未来。
State Councilor Wang Yi talked on the Global Development Initiative (GDI) proposed by President Xi Jinping at the UN last September. The primary goal of GDI is to facilitate the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It calls on all countries to focus on development, pool their efforts and meet challenges together. Highly responsive to the needs of various parties, the GDI has soon been warmly received and supported by the UN and nearly 100 countries, including The Gambia.
王毅介绍了习近平主席在联合国郑重提出的全球发展倡议。该倡议最核心的理念是以人民为中心，最重要的目标是助力落实联合国2030年可持续发展议程。倡议呼吁各国重视发展问题，形成合力，共迎挑战。它高度契合各方需要，迅速得到联合国以及包括冈比亚在内的近百个国家的响应支持。
State Councilor Wang Yi also elaborated on the key work of next-step China–Africa cooperation. At the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC held last November in Dakar, President Xi Jinping announced nine programs for cooperation with Africa. China honors its commitment and never makes empty promises. This year, we will vigorously implement the outcomes of the Conference, fully deliver on President Xi Jinping’s pledge of providing one billion doses of vaccines to Africa and help Africa reach its goal of vaccinating 60% of its population by the end of 2022. We will further upgrade China-Africa practical cooperation, synergize the GDI with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and take concrete actions to support the economic recovery and sustainable development of Africa. Furthermore, China will play a constructive role for the peace and development of the African continent.
王毅介绍了中非下一步合作重点方向。去年是中非合作的大年，中非合作论坛第八届部长级会议成功举行，习近平主席宣布对非合作“九项工程”，为中非关系发展注入了新的强劲动力。中国对非合作重信守诺。中方将大力推进对非抗疫合作，全面落实习近平主席向非洲提供10亿剂疫苗承诺，帮助非洲提升疫苗本地化生产能力，助力实现2022年60%非洲人口接种疫苗的目标。中方将促进中非务实合作提质升级，推动全球发展倡议同非盟《2063年议程》对接，以实际行动支持非洲实现经济复苏和可持续发展。中方还将为非洲的和平与发展发挥建设性作用。
The Gambia is China’s good friend an partner, and an important member of the FOCAC family. Just a week ago, I paid a courtesy call on H.E. President Adama Barrow. We talked extensively on promoting China-Gambia relations and cooperation, and exchanged views on our ongoing and future cooperation projects in such fields of public health, agriculture, electricity, food security, and so on. As Chinese Ambassador to The Gambia, I am confident that, with coordinated efforts from both China and The Gambia, we will continue to advance our cordial relations and fruitful cooperation, and better achieve common development for the well-being of our two peoples.
冈比亚是中国的好朋友、好伙伴。我于一周前拜会了巴罗总统，我们就推动中冈关系健康稳定发展、促进中冈各领域合作提质升级进行了深入交流。作为中国驻冈比亚大使，我坚信，在中冈双方共同努力下，我们的友好合作将不断结出累累硕果，持续造福两国和两国人民。