CHINA / POLITICS
China's national legislature opens annual session
By Xinhua Published: Mar 05, 2026 09:02 AM Updated: Mar 05, 2026 01:05 PM
The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Ye)


The 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, opened its fourth session on Thursday morning at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders attended the opening meeting.

Premier Li Qiang delivered a government work report at the meeting.

Lawmakers examined a draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for national economic and social development.

They examined the report on the implementation of the 2025 plan for national economic and social development and on the 2026 draft plan, and the draft plan for national economic and social development in 2026.

Lawmakers also examined the report on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2025 and on the draft central and local budgets for 2026, and the draft central and local budgets for 2026.

Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, delivered explanatory remarks on a draft environmental code, a draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress, and a draft law on national development planning, respectively.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers a government work report at the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers a government work report at the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)


Zhao Leji presides over the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Zhao Leji presides over the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)


Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, delivers explanatory remarks on a draft environmental code, a draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress, and a draft law on national development planning at the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, delivers explanatory remarks on a draft environmental code, a draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress, and a draft law on national development planning at the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)


Foreign diplomatic envoys to China attend the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xiao)

Foreign diplomatic envoys to China attend the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xiao)


Foreign diplomatic envoys to China attend the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Foreign diplomatic envoys to China attend the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)


Foreign diplomatic envoys to China attend the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Foreign diplomatic envoys to China attend the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)


Members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) sit in on the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) as non-voting participants at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) sit in on the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) as non-voting participants at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xiang)


Journalists work at the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

Journalists work at the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)


Members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) sit in on the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) as non-voting participants at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xiao)

Members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) sit in on the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) as non-voting participants at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xiao)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)


Journalists work at the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Journalists work at the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Xin)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Xi)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Wang Jianhua)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)


The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

The opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)