# Explained: what is China’s Two Sessions meeting?

The annual political gathering begins this week in Beijing, with thousands of political and community delegates descending on the city from across mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau to ratify legislation, personnel changes, and the budget over about two weeks of highly choreographed meetings.

China’s annual Two Sessions meetings begins this week, with thousands of political and community delegates descending on Beijing from across mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau to ratify legislation, personnel changes, and the budget over about two weeks of highly choreographed meetings.

China’s annual Two Sessions meetings begins this week, with thousands of political and community delegates descending on Beijing from across mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau to ratify legislation, personnel changes, and the budget over about two weeks of highly choreographed meetings.

The event is called the “two sessions” because both the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) hold their annual meetings separately, but at the same time. The CPPCC is an advisory body, with little real political influence but often sees some outside-the-box proposals for issues like China’s demographic crisis. Its members include business executives, celebrities, and celebrated individuals who previously included the likes of actor Jackie Chan and basketballer Yao Ming. The 3,000-member NPC is the Chinese Communist party’s legislative body, but is largely a “rubber stamp” parliament, having never rejected a bill put before it.

The Two Sessions gathering has hosted hugely significant policy changes in the past. In 2023 it saw the formalisation of Xi Jinping’s precedent-busting third term as leader. In 2020 the NPC unveiled plans for the national security law now in place over Hong Kong.

The meetings include “work report” speeches by the premier, and sometimes – but not always – speeches by the party leader. Official economic targets are set, military budgets announced, and changes in the ranks of party leadership bodies are confirmed.

The Two Sessions gathering has hosted hugely significant policy changes in the past. In 2023 it saw the formalisation of Xi Jinping’s precedent-busting third term as leader. In 2020 the NPC unveiled plans for the national security law now in place over Hong Kong.

The meetings include “work report” speeches by the premier, and sometimes – but not always – speeches by the party leader. Official economic targets are set, military budgets announced, and changes in the ranks of party leadership bodies are confirmed.

The Two Sessions gathering has hosted hugely significant policy changes in the past. In 2023 it saw the formalisation of Xi Jinping’s precedent-busting third term as leader. In 2020 the NPC unveiled plans for the national security law now in place over Hong Kong.

At the 2022 Party Congress, Peng Lifa staged a brave protest at Sitong Bridge in Beijing. Peng was detained, his location still unknown, and authorities now closely guard Beijing bridges during political events to ensure it won’t be repeated.

At that same 2022 event, foreign press captured the extraordinary moment that former president Hu Jintao was physically removed from his seat next to Xi and shuffled out of the room.

The sessions are attended by a huge crowd of foreign media, many of them flying in for the meeting and a rare chance to interact with CCP officials in person. In 2024, the annual premier’s press conference was abruptly cancelled without explanation, closing down one of the already limited forums for transparency.

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