NPC 2024: Documents and Votes

The second session of China’s 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) concluded on Monday, March 11. Below we have compiled a list of all official documents from this session (except for two legislative documents the NPC has so far neglected to release). We have also linked to the submitted (i.e., draft) version of six main reports for your reference. Unless otherwise noted, the documents are available in Chinese only. The vote results for each bill and resolution are listed below in brackets, in the order of yea–nay–abstention.

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NPC 2024: Agenda and Daily Schedule

China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) has released its 2024 session’s agenda and daily schedule of meetings, as well as a preliminary schedule of press events during the session. This year’s session will open on the morning of March 5 and close on the afternoon of March 11, lasting seven full days, consistent with Covid-era norms. But in a break with long-standing tradition, and for the first time since 1993, the premier will not hold a press conference after this session, or during the reminder of this NPC’s term “absent special circumstances,” a spokesperson announced on March 4.

All times below are in China Standard Time (UTC +8:00). For a primer on the NPC and its annual sessions, check out this FAQ.

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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.

NPCSC Session Watch: NPC Preparations and State Secrets Law Revisions

UPDATE (Feb. 27, 2024): The NPCSC on February 27 approved the revision to the Law on Guarding State Secrets, which will take effect on May 1, 2024. An English translation of the revised Law and a Chinese comparison chart are accessible from the bill page.

China’s top legislature, the 14th NPC Standing Committee (NPCSC), will convene for its eighth session from February 26 to 27, the Council of Chairpersons decided on Wednesday, February 7.

As expected, this two-day meeting will primarily make preparations for the NPC’s 2024 session, scheduled to open on March 5. In addition to discussing its annual work report to the NPC, the NPCSC will review a proposed itemized agenda for the 2024 NPC session, among other preparatory matters.

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