Beijing in full swing for safe, green two sessions

Strict inspections of vehicle fleets, flight bans on drones and “low, slow and small” aircraft heightened security checks for packages… Beijing is in full swing for China’s most important annual political events as the two sessions period begins next week.

As a window to observe China’s development and embodiment of Chinese democracy, the two sessions cover the country’s essential economic and social development plans, drawing worldwide attention annually. This year’s meetings have grabbed special attention as 2021 marks the beginning of the country’s new 14th Five- Year Plan ( 2021- 25) period and the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China.

Compared with last year’s two sessions, which were delayed to May due to the outbreak of COVID- 19, this year’s two sessions will take similar but looser anti- epidemic measures as China has basically controlled the virus’ spread, but still takes a cautious attitude toward a possible resurgence.

Similarly, deputies to National People’s Congress ( NPC) and members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference are required to take nucleic acid tests before arriving in Beijing but they do not need to be quarantined for a week.

Last year, all of them took nucleic acid tests twice – one at the place of their departure and another in Beijing. Zhu Lieyu, an NPC deputy who is a lawyer from the Guoding Law Firm in Guangzhou, Guangdong

Province, believed that they will take a second one as they did last year.

Zhu said they have received notices from local organizing committees on getting COVID- 19 vaccines, but this is not compulsory.

State- owned BAIC, the vehicle fleet provider for the Beijing delegation, made sure that all its drivers have been vaccinated against COVID- 19 and all the vehicles used for the meetings have been fully inspected.

More attention has been paid this year to vehicles serving the two sessions in terms of low- carbon standards and environmental protection.

To ensure absolute safety, all units, organizations and individuals are prohibited from flying drones and other “low, slow and small” aircraft in the Chinese capital between March 1- 12.