2014中国两会看点

 

The gathering² of the National People's Congress at Beijing's Great Hall of the People usually doesn't generate much drama by itself. As the congress put it in a guide for reporters, "no new laws or major law amendments³ are expected to be put before the legislators this year, and there will be no outstanding personnel changes for voting."

 

Still, the congress -- which goes by the English shorthand NPC -- provides China's top leaders with a platform to sketch⁴ out their economic and policy goals for the year. Some of them appear at rare - if carefully managed - press conferences. Enterprising reporters might even catch key officials as they come and go from meetings or duck out for bathroom breaks.

 

Some major points of interest will be:

 

China's economic growth target for 2014: Last year, China held fast to a growth target of "about 7.5%," then just eked⁵ past it with 7.7% growth for 2013. Most economists⁶ believe Beijing will stick to the 7.5% rate but that it will become harder meet that target as the country's economy matures.

 

China's military spending: Last year China increased its defense⁷ budget by 10.7% amid rising regional tensions with Japan and with Southeast Asian national over their overlapping⁸ South China Sea claims. This year tensions have heightened even further after Japan's prime minister visited a controversial shrine⁹. Another ramp¹⁰ up would be further signs of China's desire to flex¹¹ its muscles regionally.

 

Financial reform: Any hints that China will ease capital controls, liberalize interest rates or make its currency more freely convertible¹². Experts don't expect broad moves from the NPC.

 

Social services: China may ramp up spending to address growing public demands for health care, better education, bigger pensions and other services.

 

Corruption¹³: Chinese leaders are in the midst of a broad-ranging campaign against graft¹⁴ and waste. Austerity for officials is likely to be a message reinforced repeatedly. In the past, Chinese have combed online news photos of delegates pointing out their expensive clothes and accessories. This year they've been instructed to eschew¹⁵（避免） fancy banquets（宴会） and tchotchkes（小玩意儿）.

 

National security: Don't expect it to be on the formal agenda, but leaders might let something slip following the deadly weekend knife attack in Kunming.

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