爱上海419论坛|阿拉爱上海同城|上海后花园论坛|夜上海419论坛|上海419龙凤

Zhang Yongxiang, a villager from Yangyuhui village in Chengzhuang town, Lyuliang, North China's Shanxi Province, happily showed the Global Times the lively scenes at his son's recent wedding. The wedding and dowry only cost a total of 20,000 yuan ($2,738), a relatively small price to pay for the great joy the event brought the family. Prior to this, Zhang had heard many stories of fellow villagers who had incurred heavy debts or even took out loans to host extravagant weddings and pay exorbitant dowries, and Zhang feared that his family would fall into the same financial trap.

Thanks to local campaigns launched to curb costly rural marriages, Zhang became a direct beneficiary of the two-year campaign to regulate and modernize outdated customs in rural areas initiated by central authorities in 2022.

Eight national departments jointly issued a notice in August 2022 to address the prominent problems of excessive bride price and extravagant wedding ceremonies in China's rural areas by rolling out a special work plan for a nationwide campaign. The campaign started in August and is expected to end in December this year.

According to the work plan, a series of advocating standards will be promoted in the counties, townships, and villages, resulting in the preservation and inheritance of excellent traditional Chinese virtues.

As recipients of an advanced model of reform in Lyuliang, Chengzhuang town has effectively curbed the momentum of the spread of a series of outdated conventions and harmful customs such as the paying of exorbitant bride prices and luxurious burials, to relieve rural residents of financial burdens and foster the Chinese traditions of diligence and filial respect for the elderly.

"The organization of weddings and funerals best reflects rural civilization. The extravagant spending and flaunting of wealth in these events is detrimental, and not only burdens impoverished families but also goes against the goal of achieving common prosperity in our country," Meng Fei, the Party Secretary of Chengzhuang town, told the Global Times. "Therefore, our campaign aims to abolish such customs and use village regulations to guide and urge the residents to consciously abandon outdated customs."

At the entrance of Yangyuhui village, a prominent display board showcases the village's regulations on promoting frugality and simplicity in weddings and funerals. It encourages the purchase of wedding gifts not exceeding 200 yuan by relatives and 100 yuan by other guests, and advocates for simple funeral arrangements with a mourning period not exceeding 5 days.

The regulation also calls for the abandonment of behaviors such as the promotion of vulgar values associated with romantic relationships and marriage, including asking for and the payment of excessive bride prices.

Moreover, regulations are put in place to address the failure to fulfill filial duties and to curb the promotion of feudal superstitions and vulgar activities at funerals, such as ghost marriages. Extravagant wedding ceremonies and funerals that lead to significant wastage are also subject to regulation.

Giving a bride price and dowry has a long history in China as a goodwill gesture between the couple meant to tie the knot and their families. However, the nature of traditional customs has changed a lot over the years and has become a financial burden to many families, especially in rural China.

Meng told the Global Times that in Linxian county, where Chengzhuang town is located, funeral arrangements are incredibly complicated and consuming. Various procedures such as setting up a memorial hall, mourning in the morning and evening, and performing rituals such as kneeling and kowtowing, are included as part of the ritual. In order to simplify funeral arrangements, the towns and villages in Linxian county have introduced "memorial meetings" as part of traditional funerals, eliminating the need for complex ceremonies.

When they hear of a family planning an expensive traditional funeral, Meng and the village cadres promptly visit to encourage a simplified memorial meeting. This meeting can be organized with the assistance of village cadres or the village council responsible for overseeing funerals and weddings.

As of April, Chengzhuang town had organized over 100 memorial meetings for various communities. Zhang Rongrong, the Party Secretary of Yangyuhui village, told the Global Times that the village has invited respected elders and influencers to participate in the village council responsible for overseeing funerals and weddings to promote these new customs. The council mandates that villagers report their events in advance, even including specific details such as the brands of cigarettes and alcohol to be used, in order to discourage excessive competition among villagers.

"In the past, some people would even take out loans to host extravagant weddings or funerals to show off, placing a great burden on families and promoting bad practices. Now, advocating for new customs is also providing the villagers with an alternative," said Zhang.

The burden of expenditures on weddings, banquets, and betrothal gifts for people in the village has been significantly reduced since the start of the campaign, Zhang noted.

"Through effective education and guidance, we have freed the local residents from such outdated customs and unnecessary expenses," Zhang said. So far, all 21 villages in Chengzhuang town have updated their village regulations regarding these changes in customs. The town has organized more than 320 memorial services, and the local people have reduced their expenses by over 1.7 million yuan ($0.23 million)."

Following the passing of the Article 23 legislation at the Legislative Council (LegCo) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) on Tuesday, some central government authorities on Hong Kong affairs voiced their support and warm congratulations on the passage of the law with a unanimous vote, a milestone in the One Country, Two Systems practice.

Protecting national security means safeguarding One Country, Two Systems, which also means ensuring the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, safeguarding the interests of foreign investors, preserving the democratic freedoms of Hong Kong, and protecting the human rights and fundamental well-being of all residents in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council said in a statement on Tuesday.

The formulation and implementation of Hong Kong's national security ordinance will undoubtedly further solidify the secure foundation for the city's development, promoting a faster transition from governance to prosperity, the office said.

Hong Kong lawmakers unanimously passed the highly anticipated Article 23 legislation on Tuesday following marathon sessions during which all lawmakers expressed strong support for the law. The legislation, entitled as Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, will be gazetted on Saturday and will take effect from then.

The ordinance is organically linked with the already implemented National Security Law (NSL) for Hong Kong, filling in the gaps in the HKSAR's system and mechanisms for maintaining national security, together forming a solid barrier for the protection of national security in the region, the office said.

The ordinance targets a very small number of individuals who commit crimes endangering national security, while protecting the human rights and freedoms of the vast majority, as its content is very clear, with precise definitions of the elements of crimes, and clear distinctions between what constitutes a crime and what does not, the office noted.

It also stipulates the principles of legality of crimes and punishments, presumption of innocence, and the rights of the accused, defendants, and other participants in legal proceedings to defend themselves and other procedural rights, as well as the principle that laws are not retroactive.

The ordinance also sets out specific exemptions and defenses for certain crimes. Law enforcement agencies must exercise their powers in accordance with legal conditions, follow strict procedures, and be subject to judicial oversight. These provisions fully protect the various rights and freedoms legally entitled to the public, the office said.

The Legislative Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress Standing Committee also said on Tuesday the passage of the Article 23 legislation is a significant action taken by the HKSAR to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities for maintaining national security.

It is a tangible outcome of fully implementing the duties defined by the national security law, and it is worthy of full recognition.

The commission said the legislative process of the law went through extensive and in-depth public consultation across Hong Kong society and serious and comprehensive deliberation by the LegCo.

After amendments and improvements, the draft ordinance received unanimous support and was passed by the LegCo, reflecting the common will of the government bodies of the HKSAR, all sectors of society, and the people of Hong Kong to firmly uphold national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and to steadfastly maintain the constitutional order and the rule of law as determined by the Constitution and the Basic Law of Hong Kong, the commission said, noting that the law enjoys broad social support.

Security is the prerequisite for development, and the rule of law is the cornerstone of prosperity. The smooth passage of the Article 23 legislation will benefit the overall institutional effectiveness of the HKSAR's legal system, the Commissioner's Office of China's Foreign Ministry in the HKSAR said on Tuesday.

It will further help to develop a safe, convenient, and efficient business environment, enhance the confidence of local and overseas investors, and ensure high-quality development with high-level security, ensuring long-term governance, safety, and prosperous stability in Hong Kong, the commissioner's office said.

Hong Kong will continue to be a fertile ground for global businesses and talents to invest and thrive, a haven for pursuing and building dreams, the authority noted.

The commissioner's office also pointed out that those with ulterior motives who smear the Article 23 legislation, slander, and attempt to undermine One Country, Two Systems cannot sway the clear-sighted citizens of Hong Kong, cannot deceive the discerning individuals within the international community, and cannot stop the historical trend of Hong Kong's progress from governance to prosperity.

The law passed by the LegCo on Tuesday is a law that aligns with public opinion, ensures security, and protects development. It is also a law that the vast majority of patriotic residents of Hong Kong have been looking forward to for over 26 years, the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong said.

During the public consultation phase, over 98.6 percent of the feedback supported the legislation, the liaison office said.

Recalling the social turmoil in 2019, with rampant "Hong Kong independence" advocacy, widespread violence, and "mutual destruction" tactics leading to economic downturn and social unrest, how could one speak of developing the economy or ensuring people's livelihoods? The liaison office asked.

The NSL for Hong Kong has laid a solid foundation for Hong Kong's transition from chaos to governance and from governance to prosperity, but the national security challenges Hong Kong faces remain complex and severe, the office said.

The systems and mechanisms to complement the implementation of the NSL for Hong Kong need further strengthening. Local legislation under Article 23 of the Basic Law is imperative, it said.

The legislative process of the ordinance is rigorous and standardized, with scientific and reasonable content. The elements of crimes are clearly defined, and the penalties are appropriately severe or lenient, balancing the maintenance of national security with the protection of rights, freedoms, and economic development, in line with international law and common international practices, the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the central government in Hong Kong said on Tuesday.

The ordinance complements and is interconnected with the NSL for Hong Kong, effectively plugging legal loopholes in the city's national security legislation and constructing a solid barrier for the protection of national security, the office said.

Several business chambers in Hong Kong also welcomed the passage of the law. The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce said the passage of the law by the LegCo on Tuesday provides a guarantee for Hong Kong's long-term development and stability.

The chamber is pleased to see that the government is actively responding to the concerns of different stakeholders in society, incorporating many suggestions collected during the consultation period into the ordinance draft.

It said it also hopes the government will continue to improve public awareness of the ordinance and strengthen educational efforts to clarify any misunderstandings or concerns.

Businesses and experts see more potential in economic and trade ties between China and New Zealand as bilateral relations get stronger, highlighted by the ongoing visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to the island nation this week.

As the two countries deepen cooperation in traditional sectors like dairy and aquatic products, industry insiders and experts said that there are burgeoning areas such as tourism, the green economy and digital economy where their complementarity can further be leveraged.

The comments came as the two countries marked the 10th anniversary of the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership.

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington on Monday.

During the meeting, Wang noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand, the countries had set numerous records of "firsts," driving bilateral relations to the forefront of China's relations with developed countries, according to the website of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

China is happy to see New Zealand's continued participation in the Belt and Road Initiative cooperation, and looks forward to working with New Zealand to explore the new growth areas of cooperation such as science and technology, green and innovation while strengthening the cooperation in traditional fields, Wang said.

The Chinese economy enjoys both a solid foundation and a broad space for growth, which will continue to inject more impetus into the world economy and bring new opportunities to New Zealand, the Chinese foreign minister said.

At the meeting, Luxon also expressed his expectations for deepening cooperation in various sectors including economic and trade issues, education, tourism, agriculture and technology.

Wang is the highest-ranking Chinese politician visiting the country since he went there in 2017.

The visit has drawn wide attention, with businesses seeing even brighter prospects for bilateral economic and trade ties, the core of the bilateral relationship, experts and industry insiders told the Global Times.

The relationship between China and New Zealand has consistently been at the forefront of China's ties with developed Western countries, creating numerous milestones, Chen Hong, director of the New Zealand Studies Centre at East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Monday.

Economic and trade relations serve as the cornerstone of bilateral ties, with New Zealand products such as beef, lamb, dairy items and seafood gaining increasing popularity among Chinese consumers. Economic and trade relations have been robust and mutually beneficial, with China's value-for-money products also appealing to New Zealand consumers.

In addition to traditional sectors, both countries have vast potential for cooperation in the fields of the green and blue economies, as well as in the realm of the digital economy, Chen Hong said.

The strong China-New Zealand relationship also serves as a model, particularly for Australia, to learn from, especially after the downturn in China-Australia relations during the previous Morrison government, said Chen Hong.

Among various bilateral exchanges, tourism has been an important factor, with greater potential for growth.

Jason Chen, head of the New Zealand-China Travel Exchange Association, who also owns a travel agency in New Zealand, told the Global Times on Monday that he has good expectations for the high-level government meetings during the visit of China's foreign minister in terms of a possible boost for the tourism industry in the island country.

The year 2019 was the China-New Zealand Year of Tourism, with outbound travel from China to New Zealand reaching 587,700 in terms of arrivals. However, due to the pandemic, the number of tourists traveling to New Zealand has significantly decreased, Jason Chen said.
While there has been a recovery in terms of the number of Chinese tourists visiting New Zealand, it has not recovered to the pre-pandemic level.

"With high-level visits, we expect to boost the development of the tourism industry in both China and New Zealand. Booming tourism will help further revive the New Zealand tourism industry and boost its economy," Jason Chen said.

At the same time, the tourism industry insider said that as the bilateral relationship gets closer, the New Zealand government will consider introducing short-term visa-free policies for Chinese tourists, making it more convenient for more Chinese people to visit the island country for sightseeing and tourism.

In the dairy sector, business potential is strong. In a statement previously sent to the Global Times, Teh-han Chow, CEO of Fonterra's greater China division, said that the China market is incredibly dynamic and a strong driver of international trade and investment.

China's emphasis on openness creates opportunities for businesses to engage in mutually beneficial partnerships, expand market access, and contribute to economic growth, Chow said.

Bilateral relations have seen a positive trend, with important meetings and interactions at both the government and business levels taking place, following the visit of then New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins to China in June 2023, charting a good course for bilateral relations.

Both countries marked many "firsts" in their bilateral relations. China is New Zealand's largest trading partner. New Zealand was the first Western country to support China's accession to the World Trade Organization and the first Western country to decide to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

In March 2017, New Zealand became the first Western developed country to sign a cooperation agreement with China on the Belt and Road Initiative.

Based on mutual respect and equality, the relationship between China and New Zealand has maintained steady momentum since the establishment of diplomatic ties, yielding many fruitful outcomes, Chen Hong said.

New Zealand's economic development has also directly benefited from closer ties with China, including a free trade agreement. China's ongoing consumption upgrade continues to inject new impetus into the island country's economic recovery in the post-pandemic era, Chen Hong said.

There are high complementarities between the EU and China since both sides are impacted by climate change and both have clear targets to pursue in the green transition, Vicky Pollard, head of the Unit in the European Commission's Directorate General for Climate Action, told the Global Times in an exclusive interview on Thursday.

Chinese experts said that the remarks set a rare and positive tone from the EU side in seeking more cooperation with China against the backdrop of the intensified probe targeting Chinese new-energy products.

They also said that in order to facilitate their green transition, the EU needs to put more words into action by looking at cooperation rather than competition with China in the field.

The EU and China have much more to cooperate on in the green economy, said Pollard, noting that it also makes economic sense for the EU and China to cooperate for the green transition.

The remarks were made after a meeting on EU 2040 Climate Target, a seminar co-hosted by the EU Delegation to China and the Institute of Climate Change and Sustainable Development of Tsinghua University in Beijing on Thursday.

During the meeting, Pollard gave a thorough presentation on EU's 2040 climate target and Chinese experts and industry representatives exchanged their views on how to pursue green transition and how China and the EU can cooperate in achieving their respective targets for carbon reduction.

Talking about the cooperation that have been made between China and the EU in green transition, Pollard told the Global Times that there are many things both EU and China have discussed and have been working on, including emission trading.

"We also share experiences and seek cooperation on our respective domestic frameworks to ensure deployment of innovative solutions to ensure we meet our commitment to tackle climate change, and we make sure that those commitments are achieved in the most cost-effective ways," Pollard said.

While climate change is a global problem, Pollard said that "by acting together, we can do so at a lower cost and faster provided there is a level playing field. It's also about more dialogue and learning from each other to develop good policies."

The deployment of renewables such as wind power and solar power in the EU and in China is a good example of good policies and the benefits of deployment at scale, said the EU official.

"The EU cannot undergo the green transition alone, nor can China. It's important that we work together within a rule-based system, including for trade, and maintain balance," Pollard further noted.

Laurent Bardon, head of the Green Transition Section at the Delegation of the European Union to China, told the Global Times that from Thursday's meeting, it's evident that participants from both sides engaged in an open discussion, striving to find optimal solutions for enhancing cooperation between China and the EU in the green transition.

"It's good more interactions like this take place in the future," Bardon said.

The China-EU economic and trade ties have encountered rising concerns after the EU issued on March 6 the Official Journal of the European Union regarding its commission's implementation regulation that makes imports of new battery electric vehicles designed for the transport of persons originating in China subject to registration.

The mandate may have some impact on EV exports to Europe, as it may possibly be followed by punitive tariffs, as experts and media reports had said.

Responding to the media question regarding customs registration, He Yadong, a spokesperson of China's Ministry of Commerce, said that the EU's import registration measures and possible retroactive taxation have increased the number of import links and added burdens to normal trade.

It is not conducive to deepening cooperation in the new-energy industries of both parties and will also affect the interests of EU consumers, He noted.

Although the EU claims to seek cooperation with China in green transformation, in reality, there is still significant suppression, Lin Boqiang, director of the China Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Thursday. He noted that the EU's move targeting corresponding Chinese products is mainly due to geopolitical factors and a desire not to overly rely on China's industrial chain.

"Green transformation mainly involves cost-effective control and the application and popularization of green technology, and China, with its mature industrial chain, has a good advantage in this regard that the EU cannot imitate in the short term," Lin said.

However, if the EU side truly wishes to facilitate green transformation cost-effectively, it should refrain from suppressing relevant Chinese enterprises and products, Lin remarked.

Green transformation is a common goal for China and the EU. The EU needs China's affordable green products, while China needs the EU's large market, which is a win-win situation for both sides, Lin said.

China's centrally administered state-owned enterprises (SOEs) plan to invest in 133 projects in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region from 2024 to 2026, with a total investment of nearly 700 billion yuan ($97.55 billion), China Media Group reported on Tuesday.

With a focus on emerging industries in Xinjiang, the investments will be dedicated to new technologies, new tracks and new markets, striving to create a forward-looking and strategic "incubator," and cultivating new quality productive forces, the report said, citing an unnamed official of the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC).

The projects are expected to create 32,000 new jobs for the residents of Xinjiang during the three-year period, the official said at a meeting held in Beijing on Monday.

In 2023, central SOEs invested 270 billion yuan in fixed assets in Xinjiang and secured contracts worth 170 billion yuan for project construction, SASAC Chairman Zhang Yuzhuo said at the meeting.

These efforts are part of a broader strategy to boost local employment through industrial support, Zhang noted.

Ma Xingrui, Xinjiang's regional Party chief, said at the meeting that the SASAC as well as various central enterprises have been deeply engaged in industrial support in Xinjiang over the years, making significant contributions to the region's economic and social development.

In the meantime, Xinjiang offers a broad stage for central enterprises to demonstrate their capabilities and develop themselves, Ma said, noting that it is hoped that more central SOEs will deepen strategic cooperation with Xinjiang, with a focus on the development of the region's distinctive advantageous industries such as the "eight major industrial clusters."

This includes actively participating in oil and gas exploration, strategic energy storage and increased production, and strengthening the value chain of the grain, cotton, fruit and livestock industries, Ma said.

Central enterprises' efforts to support Xinjiang's development have yielded remarkable results in recent years. According to the Xinhua News Agency, the scale of investment from central enterprises in Xinjiang is expected to increase by more than 50 percent during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25), compared with the 767 billion yuan invested during the 13th Five-Year Plan period.

As one of the latest examples, China National Aviation Holding Co signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Xinjiang Airport Group recently, aiming to develop Urumqi Diwopu International Airport into a national gateway hub connecting Central Asia, West Asia and Europe with Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia, local media reported on Tuesday.

In 2023, total fixed-asset investment in the region (excluding rural households) increased by 12.4 percent year-on-year, with a growth rate 9.4 percentage points higher than the national average. Investment in the primary industry increased by 9 percent, while that in the secondary industry increased by 32.3 percent, data from the local government showed.

During an inspection tour in Xinjiang in November 2023, Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing called on central SOEs to make further efforts to assist the region and help it to better serve and integrate into the country's new development paradigm.

"Central enterprises should combine their own advantages with the reality of Xinjiang, and help Xinjiang develop characteristic and advantageous industries and emerging industries," Zhang said.

China has discovered its first deep-water, deep-reservoir oil find in the South China Sea, state-owned oil giant CNOOC announced on Friday.

The Kaipingnan oilfield, 300 kilometers southwest of the waters of Shenzhen in South China, has a proven reserve of 102 million tons of oil equivalent, according to the company.

It is the first oil reserve with a water depth of over 300 meters and a well depth of over 3,000 meters found by China's own efforts, as well as the largest, said CNOOC. The maximum depth where the oilfield lies is 532 meters and the maximum well depth reached 4,831 meters.

Testing drilling yields over 1,000 tons of oil and gas on a daily basis, which is a new record in China for a deep-water, deep-reservoir oilfield, the company said.

The Kaipingnan oilfield demonstrated the vast potential of deep-water exploration in the South China Sea, and further consolidated the foundation of China's offshore oil and gas reserve, which is significant toward ensuring the country's energy security, the company said in a press release on Friday.

In recent years, CNOOC made significant discoveries at the Bozhong 26-6 deep-reservoir oilfield in China's Bohai Sea and the Baodao 21-1 gas field in western South China Sea.

Zhou Xinhuai, CEO of CNOOC, said the company's continuous discoveries in the eastern part of the South China Sea forged new growth drivers for the company's offshore oil and gas business, noting the company will continue to pour more efforts in oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea to ramp up energy supply capacity.

China’s foreign trade in Jan-Feb hit record high, up 8.7% y-o-y

China’s securities regulator vows to protect small investors' interests, strengthen market regulation

The 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, kicked off its second session on Monday, marking the start of the annual two sessions. The second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, is set to open on Tuesday.

This year's political gatherings carry extra weight for the Chinese economy, as 2024 will be a crucial year for the realization of the goals and tasks of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), and the new government is set to submit its Government Work Report to the NPC annual session for deliberation for the first time.

The session usually reviews past achievements and sets development targets for the current year and beyond.

At a time when mainstream Western media outlets are flooded with reports of China grappling with various difficulties - deflation, a property crisis, mounting debt burdens and a foreign capital exodus - the two sessions will serve as a crucial window for the world to observe the country's economic development and understand its policy direction for the year ahead, which Western media outlets said investors are watching closely for signals of a "bazooka-like stimulus." 

It's not unusual to see Western media outlets run bearish reports badmouthing the Chinese economy around the major political event every year. For instance, a report published by the Financial Times on February 27, 2023, was headlined "The implications of China's mid-income trap," while CNN ran an article entitled "China's economy had a surprisingly good start to the year, but it may not last" in March 2022.

Yet, China still accomplished its 2023 GDP growth target despite downward pressure and challenges, and the underlying trends of a rebound in the economy and long-term growth remain unchanged. Such economic fundamentals further prove that the ill-intentioned "China collapse" theory cannot withstand the test of time.

Why have Western predictions about a hard landing for the Chinese economy never come true? The key lies in the inability to understand that China's economic development has its own rhythm and policy direction, which will not be influenced by Western hype. The reason why the two sessions are of great importance to China's economy is not only because of the GDP target issued during the meetings, but also because of the policy direction set for achieving stable economic development in the year ahead.

There is no denying that China's GDP target has been the focus of world attention, which is not surprising given its huge economic size and important implications for the global economy. The Chinese government has always stressed the importance of the quality of economic development, rather than just the growth rate, but GDP, as a major measure of a country's economic strength, is still one of the most important economic metrics in China. 

It is true that China's economic growth has slowed in recent years amid unprecedented and complicated domestic and external market challenges. This is mainly because the economy is undergoing a period of adjustment and transformation. Despite the difficulties and downward pressure, China is still on a solid footing and its GDP growth rate remains relatively fast among the world's major economies. 

If anything, China's consistent economic performance over the years is the best proof that it has the ability to transform its economy while maintaining growth momentum.

During China's two sessions, much attention is often paid to the country's GDP growth target. However, it is crucial to look beyond mere numbers and understand the implications of new policies and measures to be implemented by the Chinese government to address economic challenges. Because the policy direction not only promises positive influence on China's economic prospects, but also presents opportunities in the country's future development.

The Chinese economy is resilient, has huge potential and vitality and its growth momentum will continue to strengthen and lead to a bright future, according to a spokesperson for the Second Session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Economic issues have been a focal point for political advisors ahead of the gathering, and it is the opinion of all political advisors that in 2023 the Chinese economy withstood the external pressure and overcome internal difficulties, and the economy has been on a general recovery track, according to Liu Jieyi, spokesperson for the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee.

There is a good foundation and favorable conditions for promoting high-quality development and the long-term positive economic trend will continue to be consolidated and strengthened, Liu said, responding to a question about the current status of the Chinese economy.

Solid progress has been made in achieving major social and economic growth targets, high-quality development and Chinese way of modernization in 2023, Liu said.

The CPPCC held quarterly seminars on the country's macroeconomic situation and in-depth consultations on the stable operation of the overall economy, with topics ranging from fiscal, monetary, employment and headline economic policies, and provide suggestions and strategies to stabilize market expectations and boost investor confidence, according to Liu.

Biweekly consultations meetings were held on fostering the high-quality development across the financial sector and promote the stable and sound development of the property sector and field trips were made to promote the high-quality development of the private economy, strengthen the digital transformation of small and medium-sized enterprises, and improve the resilience and safety level of the industrial and supply chains.

The CPPCC also arranged study trips to small and medium-sized banks to help tackle the risks of smaller financial institutions and provide advice on implementing the task mapped by during the Central Economic Work Conference held in December.

Its suggestions on fostering new-quality productive forces were highly valued and in many cases adopted by relevant government departments, Liu said.

The second session of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC will begin on March 4.

China's economy grew 5.2 percent year-on-year in 2023, finishing above last year's official GDP target of around 5 percent, and underscoring the resilience and potential of the Chinese economy in the post-COVID-19 era.