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: May 2024

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

The revised Law on Guarding State Secrets [保守国家秘密法] (adopted on Feb. 27, 2024) takes effect on May 1.

The NPC Standing Committee (NPCSC) is seeking public comment on the following bills through May 25:

The NPCSC is expected to release its 2024 work priorities and 2024 plans for legislative, oversight, and delegates-related work sometime this month.

It will convene for its next regularly scheduled session in late June.

NPC Calendar: March 2024

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

The Criminal Law Amendment (XII) [刑法修正案（十二）] (adopted on Dec. 29, 2023) takes effect on March 1.

China’s 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) will convene for its second session on Tuesday, 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 2023 Plan for National Economic and Social Development and on the draft 2024 Plan for National Economic and Social Development; and review the draft 2024 Plan for National Economic and Social Development;
  • Review a report on the execution of the 2023 Central and Local Budgets and on the draft 2024 Central and Local Budgets; and review the draft 2024 Central and Local Budgets; and
  • Deliberate a draft revision to the State Council Organic Law [国务院组织法].

On March 4, the NPC session will convene for a preparatory meeting to select members of the Presidium (an ad hoc body of around 170 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.

If the NPC is going to fill the vacancies on the State Council and the Central Military Commission created by the removal of Qin Gang and Li Shangfu last year, such an agenda item is expected to be first revealed on March 4, either at the press conference or through the session’s agenda and daily schedule.

The NPC’s 2024 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 2024

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

The 14th NPC Standing Committee (NPCSC) will convene for its 8th session in late February. The Council of Chairpersons is expected to meet shortly after the Lunar New Year holiday (which ends on February 17) to decide on the agenda and dates of the session.

The NPCSC will primarily make preparations for the 2024 NPC session at its upcoming meeting, but may still review one or two legislative bills. Possible candidates include:

This post was updated on January 31, 2024 at 19:05 ET to add the draft Energy Law and Accounting Law amendment to the list of potential bills to be reviewed.

NPC Calendar: December 2023

Here is our recap of NPC-related events in December 2023 at our monthly newsletter.

December 4 is China’s 10th National Constitution Day [国家宪法日].

The 14th NPC Standing Committee will convene for its 7th session in late December. The Council of Chairpersons is expected to meet in mid-December to decide on the agenda and dates of the session. The session is expected to review the draft revision to the State Council Organic Law [国务院组织法] and is scheduled to review the following bills according to the NPCSC’s 2023 legislative work plan:

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

Finally, the session will hear the NPCSC Legislative Affairs Commission’s annual report on “recording and review” [备案审查] and is expected to adopt a decision on “improving and strengthening the system of recording and review.”

Update (Dec. 1, 2023): This post was updated to include the draft Mineral Resources Law revision as a possible bill for review after it was approved “in principle” by the executive meeting of the State Council on December 1.

NPC Calendar: November 2023

Here is our recap of NPC-related events in November 2023 at our monthly newsletter.

The NPC Standing Committee (NPCSC) is soliciting public comment on the following bills through November 23:

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

NPC Calendar: October 2023

Here is our recap of NPC-related events in October 2023 at our monthly newsletter.

The 14th NPC Standing Committee will convene for its 6th 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 may review one or more following bills:

It is also expected to consider one or more bills scheduled for an initial review this year by the NPCSC’s 2023 legislative work plan.

NPC Calendar: September 2023

Here is our two–part recap of NPC-related events in September 2023 at our monthly newsletter.

The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau Ecological Conservation Law [青藏高原生态保护法] (adopted on Apr. 26, 2023) and Barrier-Free Environments Development Law [无障碍环境建设法] (adopted on June 28, 2023) take effect on September 1.

On September 1, the NPC Standing Committee (NPCSC)—

The NPCSC is soliciting public comment on the following bills through September 30:

The 14th NPCSC may convene a quinquennial legislative work conference and release its five-year legislative plan some time this month.

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

NPC Calendar: August 2023

Here is our recap of NPC-related events in August 2023 at our monthly newsletter.

The NPC Standing Committee (NPCSC) is seeking public comment on a draft Criminal Law Amendment (XII) [刑法修正案（十二）] through August 24.

The 14th NPCSC will convene for its 5th 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.

According to the NPCSC’s 2023 legislative work plan, the following bills will return for further review:

The NPCSC is likely to extend a pilot program allowing eligible lawyers licensed in Hong Kong or Macao to practice mainland law in nine Guangdong cities after passing a special bar exam. It is also expected to review one or more additional bills at its upcoming session.

NPC Calendar: July 2023

Here is our recap of NPC-related events in July 2023 at our monthly newsletter.

The revised Counterespionage Law [反间谍法] (adopted on Apr. 26, 2023) and the Foreign Relations Law [对外关系法] (adopted on June 28, 2023) take effect on July 1.

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

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

NPC Calendar: June 2023

Here is our recap of NPC-related events in June 2023 at our monthly newsletter.

The 14th NPC Standing Committee (NPCSC) will convene for its 3rd 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 2023 legislative work plan, the following bills will return for further review:

The NPCSC is expected to review one or more additional bills at its upcoming session.