China commits to domestic devt: Li
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday sent the clearest signal yet that China will maintain its strategic focus on keeping domestic social and economic development stable, even as the country faces an increasingly complex and challenging external environment marked by near “cold war” tensions with the US.
In a wide-ranging press conference after the conclusion of the two sessions that touched on topics ranging from the newly passed national security legislation for Hong Kong, to diplomatic and trade tensions with the US, to Taiwan question, the Chinese Premier largely kept the focus on China’s domestic policy priority – protecting jobs, livelihood and business and stabilizing economic growth.
China’s fixation with tackling
the domestic challenges posed by the COVID-19 epidemic also stood in stark contrast to some other countries, most noticeably the US, that have been seeking to divert attention from their domestic woes with warmongering rhetoric, which further shed light on China’s plan to tackle foreign risks: a sound domestic development is key to all problems at hand, analysts noted.
Domestic priority
“[Economic development] remains the key and foundation for China to address all problems,” Li said during the roughly two-hour press conference, vowing to take sufficient fiscal, monetary and other policy tools to protect jobs, livelihood and business – the overarching theme of this year’s two sessions.
This year’s two sessions, which concluded on Thursday, came at a time of extraordinary circumstances for China posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the geopolitical tensions it sparked.
What has been making headlines around the world are the escalating tensions between China and the US over a wide range of issues--from trade to technology, to China’s internal affairs in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Xinjiang. In light of the tensions since the COVID-19, some observers have even declared a “new cold war” between the world’s two biggest economies.
Premier Li made it clear that China’s focus is on its domestic development. Li answered 11 questions, with over half of them focused on the domestic economy. Even when asked about hotbutton topics, he was noticeably concise.
On the national security law for Hong Kong, Li said that the legislation was aimed at ensuring the long-term stability and prosperity of Hong Kong. On Taiwan question, he sent well wishes for the peace and health of residents in the mainland and on the island.
“What we can draw from the press conference is that China’s overall approach to this very special period with very special challenges is to keep the domestic situation stable,” Li Yong, deputy chairman of the Expert Committee of the China Association of International Trade, told the Global Times. “Without a sound economy and stable livelihood, we have no strength to tackle all other issues.”
Li Yong noted that China’s approach to focusing on stabilizing the domestic situation is the “right direction” as opposed to the approach adopted by some Western countries, including the US, where officials have been falling short in efforts to contain the pandemic and revive their economies, while stirring up tensions across the world. “They can be very loud, but in the end, it’s all about the strength of their economy and society,” he said.
The focus on the domestic situation was also vivid throughout the week-long two sessions, during which prescribing a cure for the virus, Chinese economy and protecting jobs remained a top priority among Chinese lawmakers and political advisers.
“This year’s two sessions is the most extraordinary one I have ever experienced, with a big battle and test in a special historic moment,” Yang Yuanqing, chairman and CEO of Lenovo and a deputy to the National People’s Congress (NPC), the top legislature, told the Global Times, noting that economic recovery and livelihood was the top priority and responsibility.