中文

Speakers:

Mr. Shen Danyang, head of the government work report drafting team and director of the State Council Research Office

Mr. Chen Changsheng, a member of the government work report drafting team and deputy director of the State Council Research Office

Chairperson:

Ms. Shou Xiaoli, director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

Date:

March 5, 2025

Shou Xiaoli:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press briefing held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). Today, we have invited Mr. Shen Danyang, head of the government work report drafting team and director of the State Council Research Office, and Mr. Chen Changsheng, a member of the drafting team and deputy director of the State Council Research Office, to introduce the report and answer your questions.

Now, I'll give the floor to Mr. Shen for his introduction.

Shen Danyang:

Hello, everyone. It is a pleasure to meet with you and introduce the drafting of the Report on the Work of the Government. This morning, Premier Li Qiang delivered the government work report at the third session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC). My colleagues and I, who participated in the drafting of the report, listened attentively to the premier as he delivered the report in the Great Hall of the People. As members of the drafting team, we were already familiar with the content, but listening to the report being delivered was still exciting and inspiring.

Since the opening of the session, we have been following the media coverage, and we are pleased to see positive feedback and comments from all sides. In interviews after the opening meeting, we also noticed that many deputies to the NPC and members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) said that the report addresses social concerns, responds to various expectations, and will effectively boost confidence. One NPC deputy stated that this year's report is targeted, concise and foresighted, earnest and down-to-earth, and will gain wide recognition. He expressed his strong appreciation and support. Many netizens posted online, expressing their pride in the country's new achievements and feeling motivated by the new goals, tasks and policies proposed in the report. One netizen said that the government work report contains many important details, from economic growth to people's well-being, all affecting the everyday lives of ordinary people and aiming for concrete development achievements that bring tangible benefits to the public. There were many similar remarks, which I imagine you have also noticed.

Reporting to the NPC on the work of the government is a statutory duty of the State Council. Diligently drafting the government work report is extremely important, and the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council attach great importance to it. General Secretary Xi Jinping presided over meetings of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and its standing committee to review the report, and made important instructions and clear requirements multiple times, pointing the way and providing the basic principles for drafting the report. Premier Li Qiang was personally in charge of drafting the report, convening executive meetings and plenary meetings of the State Council to study and discuss the report, holding multiple symposiums to listen to comments and suggestions, and putting forward clear requirements and concrete thoughts on the framework, content and expression of the report. Other leading officials of the State Council also provided guidance on the drafting and revision of the report.

The drafting team, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, earnestly studied and comprehended the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, the second and third plenary sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and the Central Economic Work Conference. During the drafting process, great importance was attached to soliciting and reflecting ideas from all sides. It can be said that the drafting of the report was a democratic process of pooling wisdom from all sides to address social expectations and adopt increasingly refined, practical policies. The ideas and suggestions reflected in the report mainly came from three channels.

First, the premier directly listened to ideas and suggestions. In late January, Premier Li Qiang hosted three symposiums: one with experts, entrepreneurs and people working in the fields of education, science, culture, health care and sports; one with leaders of the central committees of non-Communist parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, as well as individuals with no party affiliation; and one with leading government officials from various provinces, cities, counties and townships (towns) which was held in Hefei, Anhui province.

Second, we collected ideas from all localities and departments. During the initial stage of drafting the government work report, our team listened to the thoughts and suggestions of NPC deputies, CPPCC members, staff of relevant departments and enterprises, as well as experts and scholars, through thematic surveys and consultation meetings. After the report was drafted, it was sent to different localities, departments and entities for feedback according to procedures. Nearly 4,000 copies were sent out and returned, from which more than 1,000 comments and suggestions were extracted.

Third, we utilized media platforms to solicit opinions. For example, starting from December last year, www.gov.cn, together with 21 online platforms and some government websites, launched the online campaign titled "@State Council, Share Your Views on 2025 China's Government Work Report" to collect suggestions from internet users. As of 9 a.m. on March 5, just before we came here, we checked and found a total of 2.04 million suggestions. The internet users who left messages and offered suggestions come from a wide range of backgrounds, including different age groups, industries and regions. The drafting group carefully selected over 2,000 representative suggestions from them.

For opinions and suggestions collected from the above three channels, the drafting group carefully studied each one and adopted as many as possible. In the coming days, we will continue to revise and improve the report based on the opinions and suggestions of the NPC deputies and CPPCC members.

This year's report is still divided into three main parts. The first part is a review and summary of last year's work and achievements. The second part elaborates on the overall requirements, main targets and policy orientations for the economy and social development this year. The third part proposes tasks in 10 key areas that the government should focus on this year. At the same time, it also covers work related to government performance, as well as ethnic affairs, religious affairs, overseas Chinese affairs, Hong Kong and Macao, Taiwan, national defense and foreign affairs. The report emphasizes a simple, practical and down-to-earth writing style, using language that is as simple and concise as possible, and avoiding professional terminology, with the aim of making it easy for the public to understand.

That concludes my introduction. Next, my colleague Mr. Chen and I are willing to answer your questions on the drafting of the report and related issues. Thank you.

Shou Xiaoli:

Thank you, Mr. Shen, for your introduction. The floor is now open for questions. Please identify the media outlet you represent before asking your questions.