ASEAN EYES ON CHINA’S “TWO SESSIONS”

By Zhong Meng

The fifth plenary meeting of the first session of the 13th National People's Congress takes place in Beijing on March 17.

As China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)convened their annual sessions this March, ASEAN countries closely followed the major issues such as the government work report, economic growth figures,amendments to the Chinese Constitution, reform of state institutions, targeted poverty alleviation, rural revitalization and development plans. They were eager to learn more about their fast-developing neighbor and borrow from its experience.The “two sessions,” as they are colloquially known to Chinese people, open a window for other countries to peer into China’s latest development.

Acclaim for Xi’s Leadership

On March 17, Xi Jinping was elected Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China by a unanimous vote at the first session of the 13th National People’s Congress.

In his congratulatory message Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte remarked that Xi’s election illustrated the firm confidence that China and the Chinese people place in his leadership and grand vision. He added that the China-Philippines bilateral relationship is showing new vitality, and he believes that win-win cooperation between the two countries will expand.

In his congratulatory message Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha of Thailand declared that Xi’s election by a unanimous vote attested to the Chinese people’s absolute trust in his outstanding leadership. The Prime Minister believes that China will continue to thrive and develop under Xi’s wise leadership and succeed in becoming a great modern socialist country.

Lee Hsien Loong, prime minister of Singapore and secretary-general of the People’s Action Party, Liow Tiong Lai,transport minister of Malaysia and president of Malaysian Chinese Association, and other government and organization leaders of ASEAN countries also sent Xi congratulatory messages.

Over the past five years as China’s president, Xi Jinping has impressed people from ASEAN countries from all walks of life with his charisma.

“It is bliss for the Chinese nation to have Xi Jinping as its leader,” declared Win Tin, editorin-chief of Myanmar magazine The Northern Light. “He is a witty statesmen. A capable and visionary leader like him is exactly what China needs during its rise.”

Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC, the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core has exercised overall strategic leadership and maintained a solid grip on the overall trend of development. A slew of major achievements have been made in realms of domestic affairs,foreign relations, governance over the Party and management of the military that are significant for both the current and future times, including the fight against corruption, advances in reform,proposal of the Belt and Road Initiative and the concept of building a community with a shared future for humankind.

China’s proposals of building the Belt and Road and creating a community with a shared future for humankind have been well received globally, Lu Gene Ang,president of Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., told reporters. “The Belt and Road Initiative, the first proposal of President Xi Jinping,will not only boost connectivity in many areas between countries along the routes, but will also elevate China’s overseas image,”he added.

“It is bliss for the Chinese nation to have Xi Jinping as its leader,” declared Win Tin, editor-in-chief of Myanmar magazine The Northern Light. “He is a witty statesmen. A capable and visionary leader like him is exactly what China needs during its rise.

Overseas Chinese at the CPPCC Session

This March, six overseas Chinese from five ASEAN countries were invited to attend the first session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee in a nonvoting capacity. They attended the opening and closing meetings,participated in panel discussions and offered advice. They were all honored to be present at the event and recognize that the wellbeing of overseas Chinese people remains tied to the development of their ancestral land.

“The invitation to the first session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee as a representative of 60 million overseas Chinese reflects the motherland’s recognition of us,”asserted Kitichai Yoksirimanee,honorary president of Myanmar Chinese Chamber of Commerce.“It gave me honor and a sense of responsibility. Attending the session allowed me to witness,participate, be informed and give opinions on the motherland’s development. It was a great opportunity for overseas Chinese to get to know more about the country and enhance their bond with it.

“Building a community with a shared future for humankind,as a highlight of the report to the 19th National Congress of the CPC, has been added to the Party’s Constitution,” added Yang.“At this session we are honored to see it written into China’s Constitution.” He lauded the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration that China advocates,which is a major factor in Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era so optimally addressing challenges facing all humankind. Yang believes it evinces China’s dedication to seeking common good.

“As a fourth-generation Chinese born overseas, I consider this opportunity to attend the CPPCC session both an honor and a responsibility,” said Special Envoy of Malaysia to China Gan Tian Loo.“This manifests China’s political transparency and embodies the confidence of the CPC. I will continue to help implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative and create more opportunities for cooperation between Chinese and Malay governments and people.”

Also present at the CPPCC session was Soopakij Chearavanont, eldest son of Dhanin Chearavanont and chairman of Chia Tai Group. He was active at the meeting and took notes attentively. “I am here to study,” he said to a reporter.

Overseas Chinese serve as a bridge between their resident countries and their ancestral land.Wang Quancheng, chairman of the Huayuan Association of Singapore, expressed confidence in China’s future development.Recalling the moment he received the invitation to attend the CPPCC annual session, he admitted:“I was excited. Attendance would allow me to gain greater understanding of China’s democratic system and law-based governance.”

I consider this opportunity to attend the CPPCC session both an honor and a responsibility. This manifests China’s political transparency and embodies the confidence of the CPC.

Global Confidence in China

As Ambassador of Vietnam to China, Dang Minh Khoi sees the CPC’s leadership and the unity of Chinese people of all ethnic groups as critical to China’s efforts to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects and realize the two centenary goals. China’s development exerts a huge impact not only on its own people, but also on the development and prosperity of the whole world.

Singaporean Ambassador to China Stanley Loh Ka Leung attended the opening meetings of the NPC and CPPCC of this year. He was impressed by the report on the governmental work delivered by Premier Li Keqiang to the NPC, remarking that it conveys rich information ranging from economics, trade and social development to diplomacy and charts China’s development for the coming five years.

According to the ambassador,China and Singapore are already conducting substantive cooperation in trade and economics. For five years in a row, Singapore has been the largest source of foreign investment in China. At the same time, his country is becoming a popular destination for Chinese overseas investment. With a deeper understanding of China’s economic and trade policies for the next five years, Singapore can properly identify priorities for bilateral cooperation.

Win Tin, editor-in-chief of The Northern Light, has been closely following China’s development.He noticed that many major decisions came out of the 19th National Congress of the CPC last year, which formed an action plan for the country in the coming years. And more plans for development were made at the 2018 sessions of the NPC and CPPCC. He said that through the two sessions he learned more about Chinese endeavors under the leadership of the CPC to achieve national modernization,Chinese wisdom and the Chinese achievements that have amazed the world.

EI Sun Oh, senior adviser on international affairs at the Asian Strategy & Leadership Institute (ASLI) of Malaysia, was most impressed by measures to improve people’s livelihood outlined in this year’s government work report, which elaborates on how to create beautiful lives for all Chinese people. For instance, a better environment is a requirement of a beautiful life. And the goal of cutting mineral outputs, especially coal,set in the report will effectively protect the environment.Furthermore, preferential policies for new-energy vehicles will also tremendously benefit the people.

CPPCC members emerge from the Great Hall of the People after the closing meeting of the first session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee on March 15.

Supachai, editor-in-chief of the international section of Thai newspaper Mgronline,observed that China has made remarkable progress in fighting corruption under the leadership of President Xi Jinping. He is looking forward to seeing the country make further headway in improving the environment for foreign investment and advancing international trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.

Like many of his Malaysian peers, Keng Hean Yeoh, who earned his bachelor and master’s degrees in China, has strong interest in China’s development.When he was studying in China,he experienced its transition into the cashless payment era first-hand. “I did my first online shopping and mobile payment in China,” he revealed. “Only years later did they appear in Malaysia. China is developing fast and leading the world in science,technology and economics.”