Asia Daily: Two Sessions Edition: March 11, 2025
Welcome to a special edition of Asia Daily focused on China’s annual Two Sessions (lianghui) meetings! For the next week, The Asia Cable will be providing daily news and commentary updates surrounding the National People’s Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference as China sets its legislative agenda for the next year. Today’s schedule can be found here.
Domestic Policy
China’s top political advisory body concludes annual session, vowing greater contribution to modernization. The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) concluded its annual session, emphasizing its role in advancing Chinese modernization. Chairman Wang Huning highlighted the CPPCC’s strengths in political consultation and democratic oversight. The meeting approved resolutions on the CPPCC's work report and proposal evaluations. Political advisors were urged to strengthen unity and support national rejuvenation. Xinhua, March 10
China’s third top official Zhao Leji missing from ‘two sessions’ closing due to illness. Zhao Leji, China’s third-ranking Politburo Standing Committee member and head of the National People’s Congress, was absent from the NPC’s closing session for the first time in decades. State media cited a respiratory tract infection, but his absence raised speculation. Deputy NPC chief Li Hongzhong presided over key meetings in Zhao’s place. Xinlu Liang and William Zheng, South China Morning Post, March 11
China wants to supercharge growth with applications of nuclear tech. Beijing aims to expand commercial nuclear technology applications across industries, targeting an annual economic output of 400 billion yuan (US$55.25 billion) by 2026. The focus areas include medical treatment, agriculture, and food processing. China, already the world’s largest nuclear power operator, is accelerating reactor construction to meet energy and carbon neutrality goals. Officials stress further industrial policy improvements and innovation to enhance competitiveness. Alice Li, South China Morning Post, March 10
Presidium of China’s annual legislative session holds 3rd meeting. The presidium of the third session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) convened its third meeting, presided over by Li Hongzhong on behalf of Zhao Leji. The meeting approved the submission of a draft decision on amending the Law on Deputies and resolutions on the work reports of the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People’s Court, and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate. Xinhua, March 10
Defense
China’s ‘two sessions’: PLA calls for more civilian tech inputs in military modernization. The People’s Liberation Army urged Beijing to enhance military-civilian collaboration by integrating emerging civilian technologies into defense projects. Military representatives at the National People’s Congress proposed streamlining certification and procurement processes to accelerate tech adoption. President Xi Jinping emphasized joint military-local planning, citing examples of industrial clusters and land-use adjustments to support military objectives. Amber Wang, South China Morning Post, March 10