The main domestic political event of the year in Beijing - the 14th session of the National People's Congress of China (NPC), which completed its work on Monday - marked another change in milestones in the life of the former semi-colony, which has become the world superpower of the 21st century.
Proclaimed in 1949, after World War II, the People's Republic of China continues to delight some and terrify others.
It attracts someone, repels someone, while remaining a self-sufficient geopolitical and economic continent.
This was fully confirmed by the session of the Chinese Parliament, in parallel with which the session of the People's Political Consultative Council of China (CPPCC), another body of the PRC's unique power structure, was held in Beijing.
Two sessions of the two governing bodies of China at once were actually communicating vessels with ideas and meanings flowing from one vessel to another.
The main task was to jointly complete the ten-year political cycle of the government of the Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Keqiang, who led the government for two five-year terms that turned out to be very difficult, if not critical.
The pandemic, the escalation of the trade war with the United States and the permanent crisis around Taiwan, which tends to escalate, as evidenced by the scandalous visit to the island in August last year by Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, turned out to be those unfavorable factors that could well significantly slow down the future development of the country, unless you push it back.
In this regard, the delegates of the NPC and CPPCC sessions had to understand where the country is going, what threats and challenges it will face in the coming years, determine a development strategy and adopt a budget for the next year.
In addition, the delegates of the NPC session were to reshuffle the government of the outgoing second person in Beijing, Li Keqiang, while extending for another five-year term - already the third in a row - the powers of the first person in the hierarchy of Chinese power, Chinese President Xi Jinping.
What do the main results of the past big week of Chinese domestic policy look like, which predetermined the development of the country in the coming years, and what is their significance for the whole world and for China's closest strategic partner, Russia?
After the end of the session of the Chinese Parliament, we can say that there are two news - good and bad.
Rather, there is one major piece of news that is good for those who look with hope at China as a responsible global player whose behavior largely determines the situation in the world economy, and bad for those who would like to chop off China’s roots and crush it with sanctions. deprive him of the opportunity to develop.
As well as the right to pursue a sovereign foreign policy not dictated by the United States, which is trying to implement a policy of carrots and sticks in relations with Beijing.
The meaning of this policy is to starve China out, force it to play by someone else's rules, join the war of sanctions with Russia, promising in return not to use punitive measures to the fullest, although at the same time not to refuse these measures.
Meanwhile, the figures and facts announced at the NPC session show that, despite the weights of problems tied to its feet by proxy, China is not withdrawing into itself, is not stagnating, is not moving backwards, but is on the rise and is ready to move forward.
If last year China's GDP grew by 3%, then this year the target for GDP growth has already been set at 5%.
This was announced on Monday at a press conference following the results of the first session of the NPC, new Premier Li Qiang, adding that "China's economy is large, the total volume has exceeded 120 trillion yuan."
Speaking about his government's program, Li Qiang also stressed that "at present, there are many new challenges."
“With such a high base, achieving the 5% economic growth target is likely to be a challenge, we need to redouble our efforts,” he added, setting everyone up for hard work.
In practical terms, this means that China will be more active in supplying its products to foreign markets, the country will continue to grow consumption, it will need more energy and food products (a positive signal for Russia).
In addition, China will increase investment in infrastructure development in other countries.
First of all, we will talk about the countries of the global South - the states of Africa, Latin America and Central Asia.
More good news for those who want to cooperate, rather than continue confrontation with China, is the NPC-approved goal of strengthening technological sovereignty.
The bet is to create an independent technology system.
Funding for key industry sectors will increase by 50% (to $2 billion) compared to last year.
This should allow China to enter the production of its own world-class microchips and compete with Western and Taiwanese brands.
As a result, many countries, including Russia, may have an alternative opportunity to purchase system boards, microchips and much more from China in the future.
New development will be given to the One Belt, One Road infrastructure megaproject, which should bring dividends not only to China, but also to the countries involved in it.
In addition, bad news for the US and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region is a record 7.2% increase in military spending approved by the Chinese parliament.
“It is necessary to comprehensively strengthen the management of military affairs, consolidate and multiply the results of the reform of national defense and the armed forces, improve the integrated planning of work on the conduct of military struggle, army building and combat training in carrying out the most important tasks, accelerate the implementation of the most important programs for the development of national defense,” notes in the government's report to the NPC session.
The main emphasis will be placed on three components: air defense systems, the Navy, including the submarine fleet, and the medium-range missile system.
Western analysts and military strategists who like to play solitaire hypothetical scenarios of a military confrontation with China will now have to think hard.
It is noteworthy that one of the members of the government of the new Premier Li Qiang was General Li Shangfu, who headed the Ministry of Defense, who in 2017-2018 oversaw the Chinese military space program and the development of new types of weapons.
In 2018, the United States imposed sanctions against Li Shangfu and the Department of Training and Supply of the Central Military Council of China, which he heads, in connection with the purchase by Beijing of Russian Su-35 combat aircraft and S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems.
After the arrival of Li Shangfu as Minister of Defense of the PRC, the Chinese army should become more technologically advanced.
At the same time, it should be noted that the new head of the Chinese military department has long-standing good ties with Russian colleagues.
This is another positive news for the military-technical cooperation between Moscow and Beijing.
As expected, the delegates of the completed session of the NPC re-elected the incumbent head of state Xi Jinping to the post of President of the People's Republic of China for a third five-year term.
The head of state, who will govern it during the new political cycle beginning in China, has also been re-elected chairman of the Central Military Council (CMC) of the PRC.
“Dear Mr. Xi Jinping, dear friend, please accept my heartfelt congratulations on your re-election as President of the People's Republic of China.
The decision of the National People's Congress of China is evidence of recognition of your merits as the head of state, as well as broad support for your course towards the further socio-economic development of China and the protection of national interests on the world stage, ”says Russian President Vladimir Putin in a congratulatory telegram sent to the Chinese leader. .
“We will continue to coordinate joint work on the most important issues of the regional and international agenda,” Vladimir Putin assured Xi Jinping.
It is highly symbolic that the first country that Xi Jinping will visit shortly after his re-election this spring should be Russia - another good news for Moscow and bad news for Washington.
As well as the news that in response to pressure from the United States and the West, to paraphrase Gorchakov, who uttered his formula about Russia in the 19th century, already in the 21st century, at a new historical stage in its development, “China is not angry, China is concentrating.”
The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editors.