A prized invitation
Besides delivering the Government Work Report, Premier Li Keqiang will also meet the media during the annual session of the National People’s Congress.
Since 1993, when the NPC decided to hold the news conferences on a regular basis, four premiers have met the world’s media during the annual meeting of China’s top legislature.
Normally, the news conferences are held on the last day of the annual NPC session and last between one to three hours.
More than 3,000 domestic and foreign reporters have registered to cover the two sessions this year and they have been competing with one another to secure a highly prized invitation to Li’s meeting with the media. For most reporters, especially foreign reporters, it is their only chance to get close to Li.
In 2016, 950 seats were put in the Golden Hall in the Great Hall of the People for the premier’s news conference. Li answered questions from 17 reporters, six of whom were foreign reporters.
CNN and The Financial Times are usually welcome to attend the premier’s news conference because they are among the foreign media that have put the most questions to the Chinese premiers over the years.
Among the foreign media, reporters from the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Japan have won most opportunities to ask questions in the Golden Hall.
The news conference will allow the attending media representatives to experience firsthand Li’s personal style and humor, as well as how he reacts when tough questions are put to him. Every facial expression and hand movement will be captured by photographers.
The news conference has become a stage for China to air its opinions and positions, and Li’s remarks on economic development and foreign policies will be broadcast live on TV and social media to the world.
Li answered the questions on China’s relationships with Japan and US during his news conference in 2016. The two sessions in 2017 are the first since US President Donald Trump took office, so many reporters said they are eager to learn more about how China views relations with the new US administration.