Harry Dai

Harry Dai joined NPC Observer as a research assistant in June 2022. He is a Grade 12 student at White Oaks Secondary School in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.

NPC Calendar: April 2025

Here is our recap of NPC-related events in April 2025 at our monthly newsletter.

The 14th NPC Standing Committee (NPCSC) will convene for its 15th session in late April. The Council of Chairpersons is expected to meet in mid-April to decide on the agenda and the dates of the session.

The Council will also approve the NPCSC’s 2025 work priorities as well as plans for legislative, oversight, and delegates-related work. These documents will be released after the upcoming NPCSC session (likely in early May).

The session is likely to review one or more of the following bills:

The session is also expected to conduct an initial review of a draft Ecological and Environmental Code [生态环境法典], according to our sources.

NPC Calendar: March 2025

Here is our recap of NPC-related events in March 2025 at our monthly newsletter.

The revised Cultural Relics Protection Law [文物保护法] (adopted on Nov. 8, 2024) takes effect on March 1.

China’s 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) will convene for its third session on Wednesday, March 5. The session’s tentative agenda includes the following items:

  • Deliberate the Government Work Report;
  • Deliberate work reports by the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People’s Court, and the Supreme People’s Procuratorate;
  • Review a report on the implementation of the 2024 Plan for National Economic and Social Development and on the draft 2025 Plan for National Economic and Social Development; and review the draft 2025 Plan for National Economic and Social Development;
  • Review a report on the execution of the 2024 Central and Local Budgets and on the draft 2025 Central and Local Budgets; and review the draft 2025 Central and Local Budgets; and
  • Deliberate a draft amendment to the Law on the Delegates to the National People’s Congress and Local People’s Congresses [全国人民代表大会和地方各级人民代表大会代表法].

On March 4, the NPC session will convene for a preparatory meeting to select members of the Presidium (an ad hoc body of around 180 members that will preside over the session) and to finalize the session’s agenda. The Presidium will then immediately meet to decide on the session’s daily schedule and designate a spokesperson. Shortly thereafter the session is expected to hold its first press conference.

The NPC’s 2025 session will likely close on March 11, based on a recent notice from the Beijing police on controlling the use of certain low-flying aircraft during the event. All reports and bills submitted for review are expected to be approved on the last day.

NPC Calendar: February 2025

Here is our recap of NPC-related events in February 2025 at our monthly newsletter.

The 14th NPC Standing Committee (NPCSC) will convene for its 14th session in late February. The Council of Chairpersons is expected to meet in mid-February to decide on the agenda and the dates of the session.

The NPCSC will primarily make preparations for the 2025 NPC session at its upcoming meeting, but may still review one or two legislative bills. Possible candidates include:

NPC Calendar: December 2024

Here is our recap of NPC-related events in December 2024 at our monthly newsletter.

The Tariff Law [关税法] (adopted on Apr. 26, 2024) takes effect on December 1.

The NPC Standing Committee (NPCSC) is seeking public comment on the following bills through December 7:

The 14th NPCSC is expected to convene for its 13th session in late December. The Council of Chairpersons is expected to meet in mid-December to decide on the agenda and the dates of the session.

The session will review the draft Value-Added Tax Law [增值税法], according to the NPCSC’s 2024 legislative work plan, and is expected to review the following bills:

The session may also review one or more of the other bills scheduled for an initial review in 2024.

Further, the session may conduct further review of one or more of the following bills:

The NPCSC’s April 29, 2020 decision (zh | en) authorizing the State Council to temporarily modify certain regulatory requirements in three laws1 within the Hainan Free Trade Zone will expire on January 1, 2025. The NPCSC may renew or codify (in whole or in part) the pilot reforms at the upcoming session.

Finally, the NPCSC will hear several oversight reports at its upcoming session, including its Legislative Affairs Commission’s annual report on “recording and review” [备案审查]. Consistent with the 2024 Third Plenum Decision, the NPCSC may also hear a report on the enforcement of the Constitution.

  1. The Land Management Law [土地管理法], Seed Law [种子法], and Maritime Law [海商法]. ↩︎

NPC Calendar: November 2024

Here is our recap of NPC-related events in November 2024 at our monthly newsletter.

The revised Emergency Response Law [突发事件应对法] (adopted on June 28, 2024) takes effect on November 1.

The 14th NPC Standing Committee (NPCSC) will convene for its 12th session from November 4 to 8. It will review the following bills:

For more information, please see this post.

Reuters has reported that the NPCSC will also consider and approve a fiscal stimulus package at the upcoming session.

NPC Calendar: October 2024

Here is our recap of NPC-related events in October 2024 at our monthly newsletter.

The June 28, 2024 decision of the NPC Standing Committee (NPCSC) authorizing the State Council to temporarily modify two provisions of the Food Safety Law [食品安全法] in the Hainan Free Trade Port (discussed here) takes effect on October 1.

The NPCSC is seeking public comment on the following bills through October 12:

The 14th NPCSC will convene for its 12th session in late October. The Council of Chairpersons is expected to meet in mid-October to decide on the agenda and dates of the session.

The session will review the draft amendment to the Law on Oversight by the Standing Committees of People’s Congresses [各级人民代表大会常务委员会监督法] according to the NPCSC’s 2024 legislative work plan, and is expected to review the following bills:

The session may also review one or more of the other bills scheduled for an initial review in 2024, in particular these two newly submitted bills: draft revision to the Anti–Unfair Competition Law [反不正当竞争法]; and draft revision to the Science and Technology Popularization Law [科学技术普及法].

Finally, the session may further review one or more of the following bills:

The NPCSC’s October 23, 2021 decision (zh | en) authorizing the State Council to suspend two provisions of the Metrology Law [计量法] in six municipalities will expire on October 23. The NPCSC may extend or codify (in whole or in part) the authorization at the upcoming session.

NPC Calendar: September 2024

Here is our recap of NPC-related events in September 2024 at our monthly newsletter.

On September 5, the amendment to the Charity Law [慈善法] (adopted on Dec. 29, 2023) takes effect.

From September 10 to 13, the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress will convene for its 11th session and review the following bills:

For more information, please see this post.

September 15 marks the 70th anniversary of the National People’s Congress, which first convened on that day in 1954. Earlier in the month, Chinese authorities are expect to hold a commemorative conference in Beijing, where General Secretary Xi Jinping is expected to deliver a speech on the anniversary and on the people’s congress system.

September 20 marks the 70th anniversary of the promulgation of the PRC’s first Constitution.

NPC Calendar: August 2024

UPDATE (Aug. 23, 2024): As of Friday, August 23, the Council of Chairpersons has yet to schedule a new NPCSC session. Because the Council must do so at least seven days in advance, the NPCSC is unlikely to meet in August. We suspect the next session is being delayed to time the forthcoming conferral of state honors closer to the National Day holiday.

UPDATE (Aug. 14, 2024): After this post was published, the NPCSC disclosed that it had permanently shelved the Compulsory Civil Enforcement Law in June. In addition, new information suggests that the NPCSC is likely to award state honors to 14 individuals nominated by the Communist Party at its upcoming session.

The 14th NPC Standing Committee (NPCSC) will convene for its 11th session in late August. The Council of Chairpersons is expected to meet in mid-August to decide on the agenda and dates of the session.

The session will review the draft revision to the Law on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases [传染病防治法] according to the NPCSC’s 2024 legislative work plan, and is expected to review the following newly submitted bills:

The session may also consider one or more of the other bills scheduled for an initial review this year by the NPCSC’s 2024 legislative work plan, and may further review one or more of the following bills:

The NPCSC’s October 23, 2021 decision (zh | en) authorizing the State Council to suspend two provisions of the Metrology Law [计量法] in six municipalities will expire on October 23. The NPCSC may extend or codify (in whole or in part) the authorization at the upcoming session.

NPC Calendar: July 2024

Here is our recap of NPC-related events in July 2024 at our monthly newsletter.

The revised Company Law [公司法] (adopted on Dec. 29, 2023) and the amendment to the Accounting Law [会计法] (adopted on June 28, 2024) take effect on July 1.

The NPC Standing Committee (NPCSC) is seeking public comment on the following bills through July 27:

The Communist Party’s 20th Central Committee will convene for its third plenum from July 15 to 18. The plenum is expected to approve a Decision on Further Comprehensively Deepening Reform and Advancing Chinese-Style Modernization [关于进一步全面深化改革、推进中国式现代化的决定], which may outline new NPC reforms.

The NPCSC’s April 29, 2021 decision (zh | en) authorizing the State Council to temporarily suspend or relax certain regulatory requirements in seven laws1 within China’s free trade zones expires on July 1.

The NPCSC will convene for its next regularly scheduled session in late August.

  1. The Private Education Promotion Law [民办教育促进法], Accounting Law [会计法], Certified Public Accountants Law [注册会计师法], Auction Law [拍卖法], Banking Supervision and Administration Law [银行业监督管理法], Commercial Banks Law [商业银行法], and Insurance Law [保险法]. ↩︎

NPC Calendar: June 2024

Here is our recap of NPC-related events in June 2024 at our monthly newsletter.

The Law on Ensuring Food Security [粮食安全保障法] (adopted on Dec. 29, 2023) takes effect on June 1.

The 14th NPC Standing Committee (NPCSC) will convene for its 10th session in late June. The Council of Chairpersons is expected to meet in mid-June to decide on the agenda and dates of the session.

According to the NPCSC’s 2024 legislative work plan, the following bills will return for further review:

The NPCSC’s April 29, 2021 decision (zh | en) authorizing the State Council to temporarily suspend or relax certain regulatory requirements in seven laws1 within China’s free trade zones will expire on July 1. The NPCSC is expected to codify the reforms (in whole or in part) or extend the authorization at the upcoming session.

The State Council’s request for an authorization to allow mortgaging the right to use rural house sites [宅基地使用权] (which is otherwise prohibited by the Civil Code [民法典]) in selected localities—submitted and last reviewed by the NPCSC in June 2022—may return for further review.

The session may also consider one or more bills scheduled for an initial review this year by the NPCSC’s 2024 legislative work plan.

  1. The statutes at issue are the Private Education Promotion Law [民办教育促进法], Accounting Law [会计法], Certified Public Accountants Law [注册会计师法], Auction Law [拍卖法], Banking Supervision and Administration Law [银行业监督管理法], Commercial Banks Law [商业银行法], and Insurance Law [保险法]. An amendment to the Accounting Law is currently pending before the NPCSC, but it appears the bill would retain the relevant regulatory requirement. ↩︎