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The National People's Congress meets in China.

This is formally the parliament of China, it is actually the largest parliament in the world.

3,000 delegates ceremonially gather here.

In reality, however, it is only there to approve the proposals that the Communist Party under President Xi Jinping has long since decided on.

So the mood is quite relaxed even before the start.

Georg Fahrion, DER SPIEGEL:


»It's almost an atmosphere like a school reunion.

The Chinese parliament only meets once a year.

And most delegates only see each other once a year.«

In terms of content, the number two in the country, Prime Minister Li Qiang, will present, among other things, the draft budget at the congress.

It is also about the economic goals.

Li Qiang, Chinese Prime Minister:


"The main goals for developments this year are economic growth of around five percent, twelve million new jobs in cities and an unemployment rate of around 5.5 percent."

China is aiming for economic growth that is just as high as last year.

Georg Fahrion, DER SPIEGEL:


»And that's sporty.

Because China's economy is not doing well.

To achieve this growth, the government primarily wants to strengthen the industrial and high-tech sectors.

This will mean greater competition for the industrialized countries of the West.

According to the Ministry of Finance report, spending on the military is also expected to rise significantly again, by 7.2 percent.

That would also be the same growth as last year.

Especially with a view to the conflict with Taiwan, the West is eagerly watching to what extent China expands its military.

Taiwan itself was hardly an issue that day.

In addition to political announcements, the People's Congress is also about symbolism.

Representatives of the Chinese minorities come together here.

Georg Fahrion, DER SPIEGEL:


»I saw Mongols, Tibetans, I also saw a man with a doppa, which is the traditional headgear of the Muslim Uighurs.

Of course, China wants to show that its peoples and ethnic groups supposedly live together in wonderful harmony."

The Uighurs in the Xinjiang region are systematically suppressed and monitored.

The government in Beijing has always denied these allegations.

The congress now lasts a week.

This time, the many journalists on site will not have the opportunity to ask questions at the end - unlike usual: Li has canceled the press conference that usually takes place at the end.

Georg Fahrion, DER SPIEGEL:


»Perhaps Li Xiang just wants to avoid unpleasant questions about the economy.

Or maybe he just wants to avoid the impression that he's hogging the spotlight.

Because only one man in China deserves that: China’s ruler Xi Jinping.”

Li also made this clear in his speech.

Because he mentioned Xi a total of 18 times.

Better safe than sorry.