Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), delivers a report on the work of the CPPCC National Committee's Standing Committee at the fourth session of the 12th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2016. The fourth session of the 12th CPPCC National Committee opened in Beijing on March 3. (Photo: Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)
China on Thursday raised the curtains for its annual political high season in the heart of Beijing, as efforts to maintaining growth are expected to dominate the two-week events.[Special coverage]
Chairman Yu Zhengsheng addressed 2,200 members of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, which convened the yearly session at the Great Hall of the People.
On Saturday, the National People's Congress (NPC), the legislature, will begin its annual session.
The dual sessions are significant on China's political calendar, and telegraph the general national agenda for the whole year and beyond.
Yu invoked familiar notions such as democracy and the rule of law in his 16-page work report, which also featured substantial references to economic issues.
China's economy expanded 6.9 percent year on year in 2015, the slowest in one fourth a century, weighed down by a property market downturn, falling trade and weak factory activity.
Observers are keen to hear how China's plans move from an export-led model to one led by consumption and services.
Yu told his colleagues, including former NBA player Yao Ming, that 2016 is the first year of the final stage of completing the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and a crucial year for advancement of structural reform.
Yu asked them to "devote their main efforts this year to making suggestions and proposals related to the implementation of the 13th Five-Year Plan," referring to a draft roadmap for national economy and social development from 2016 to 2020.
The draft will be submitted to national lawmakers for review and approval in the next few days.
Explaining the proposals of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on the five-year plan, General Secretary Xi Jinping said that annual growth of at least 6.5 percent would be required to reach China's goal to double its 2010 GDP and per capita income of people by 2020.
Innovation and environment are also poised to be included in the roadmap to sustain growth.
