MERICS Media Briefing on China’s “Two Sessions” and the 15th Five-Year Plan

The ruling Chinese Communist Party is finding itself under pressure from various sides: a volatile global security environment, restrictions on international trade, sluggish growth at home, an aging society and rising youth unemployment. Beijing sees the answer in maintaining industrial capacity while doubling down on innovation and technology. 

To fix this course for the upcoming years, the government has been busy drawing up the 15th Five-Year Plan – goals and guardrails helping the cadres, committees and companies to move towards Xi Jinping’s vision of the future.

In this environment the so-called “Two Sessions” will kick-off in Beijing: The meeting of the government advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) will begin on March 4. One day later, China’s legislature – the National People’s Congress (NPC) – will begin its annual gathering. It is the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress.

MERICS held a media briefing on China’s “Two Sessions” and the 15th Five-Year Plan on Friday, February 27, at 9 am CET. 

The Speakers were:

Alexander Davey, Analyst, MERICS

Katja Drinhausen, Head of Program “Politics and Society”, MERICS

Helena Legarda, Head of Program “International Relations”, MERICS

The event was moderated by Claudia Wessling, Director Communications and Publications, MERICS.

You can find a video recording of the event here shortly.