Provincial-level regions kick off annual two sessions

▶ Marriage, childbirth heatedly discussed in popular proposals

Ahead of the annual national two sessions – National People’s Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) – scheduled in March, provincial-level regions have started their local sessions.

In Shanghai, the second plenary session of the 14th CPPCC Shanghai Committee began on Monday, marking the start of this year’s annual two sessions of the city’s top legislative body and political advisory body. The CPPCC Shanghai Committee vowed to make efforts in mega city construction and management, improving the well-being and livelihood of the people, addressing livability and comfortable living for residents, and continuously boosting the ecological and living environment. Twenty-six inspection tours were organized for local

CPPCC members and 1,080 proposals were submitted, among which 971 had been handled and completed.

Of the other provincial-level regions, Southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region was the first region to finish its local sessions.

South China’s Guangdong Province, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, East China’s Zhejiang Province also kicked off its annual two sessions on Monday.

In the past weekend, Beijing, Chongqing municipalities and North China’s Hebei Province have kicked off the sessions, with the scheduled durations at three to five days, while many other provincial regions have fixed their sessions in late January.

In addition to the focus on economic growth targets, the Global Times has noticed that this year’s provincial two sessions have seen representatives paying more attention to livelihood issues such as marriage, childbirth, and the protection of minors.

Sichuan Provincial People’s Congress representative Wen Xueqian, 41, suggests that Sichuan should choose a city to pilot support policies for firsttime childbirth among young couples, and then expand it to the whole province when the time is right.

She also suggests that the cost of assisted reproductive techniques (such as in vitro fertilization) and the treatment of infertility should be included in the scope of medical insurance and maternity insurance reimbursement according to certain standards.

Another representative from Shanghai, Zhang Yuxia, suggested that national standards for gender-neutral spaces in various public places should be established, and public facilities should be improved.