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National People's Congress (NPC)

National People's Congress (NPC)
Latest news and updates about the National People's Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature. It holds one full session annually to vote on new laws and amendments, and review government’s work and policies. The NPC has about 3,000 members who are elected for five-year terms.
The Court of Final Appeal reviewed a challenge to law criminalising calls for election boycotts. Photo: Jelly Tse
Hong Kong courts

Hong Kong’s top court reviews law criminalising calls to boycott elections

Appellant warns ‘extraordinary’ ban blocks informed decisions before voting, while government argues it lies beyond constitutional review.

Artificial intelligence

What do China’s plans for new AI law mean for future of technology?

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Diplomacy

Editorial | International forums underscore China’s enduring push to open up

China-EU relations

Merz floats EU-China deal, Trump’s new Beijing date, European lawmakers visit

This week: Germany’s Friedrich Merz envisages an eventual China-EU trade deal, new date set for Trump’s China trip and fuel prices surge amid war on Iran. Next week: European parliament sends first delegation to China in eight years, solar export subsidies end, Air China resumes North Korea flights, and more.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (right) visited Unitree’s headquarters in Hangzhou last month. (Photo: EPA)
China-EU relations

European Parliament heads to China after 8 years and lobbying from Beijing

Chair of consumer protection delegation due in China next week wants to convey ‘that our rules on product standards are to be followed’.

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Hong Kong politics

Editorial | Legco could refer to mainland experience in boosting efficiency

The difference between the administrative and legislative systems of the mainland and Hong Kong does not preclude learning from the other side.

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Hong Kong courts

My Take | Mason’s legacy lies in the reputation he helped forge for Hong Kong’s final court

The death of the influential Australian jurist at the age of 100 prompts reflection on the continued value to the city of eminent justices from overseas.

Former Australian chief justice Anthony Mason, one of the first non-permanent judges to join the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal. Photo: Handout
China consumption

Opinion | To unlock consumption, China must go local

China’s consumption drive will test Beijing’s willingness to give local governments room to experiment.

Hong Kong politics

Opinion | White paper documents the strength of Hong Kong’s security shield

Beijing’s latest white paper on Hong Kong clears up misconceptions by chronicling the progress made on protecting national security.

Hong Kong politics

Opinion | Mainland-style oversight system could help Legco to deliver

Hong Kong’s executive-led governance system may just need a different type of oversight where the legislature can perform well.

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Legislative Council president Starry Lee chairs the first meeting of the eighth legislature in Admiralty on January 14. Photo: Eugene Lee
Trending in China

China warship’s sole female top officer tells women to prioritise professional skills

Poised, confident senior officer adopts role of ‘evil instructor’ on board; is also known for her ‘caring’ attitude towards crew members.

Zhu Yuemeng, 36, is the only female senior officer on China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier. Photo: SCMP composite/Baidu/Sohu
Xpeng

Flying car dreams gain altitude as Xpeng affiliate Aridge raises US$200 million

Fresh capital comes as the company ramps up manufacturing of its Land Aircraft Carrier vehicle and pushes towards commercial deliveries.

Two Sessions 2026

What are Hong Kong’s next best steps after ‘two sessions’ in Beijing?

Analysts and members of NPC and CPPCC lay out their suggestions for city’s next moves following key political meetings in capital.

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Two Sessions 2026

‘Win the future’: top China entrepreneurs commit to Middle East despite Iran war

TCL and Xpeng founders also vow to keep investing in Latin America – despite US intervention in Venezuela this year.

He Xiaopeng, co-founder and CEO of Xpeng, speaks to members of the media before the opening session of the National People’s Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 5. Photo: Reuters
China consumption

Beijing urged to boost rural pensions as lawmakers fight for farmers’ fair share

Appeals highlight a long-standing lack of benefits for elderly citizens outside cities, and proposals include leveraging state assets and new taxes to bridge the vast disparity.

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An elderly Chinese farmer works a vegetable field in Anhui province. Photo: Getty Images
China economy

Editorial | China’s ‘two sessions’ passes smoothly despite global turmoil

As long as China focuses on economic development, Hong Kong can leverage its unique strengths to seize opportunities.

Two Sessions 2026

China codifies ethnic assimilation with new ‘unity’ law as it counters the West

Legal safeguards heed Xi Jinping’s call to foster ‘shared spiritual home’ with an eye on staving off ‘domestic friction’, analysts say.

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Two Sessions 2026

How will Hong Kong follow mainland China’s ethnic unity promotion law?

Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress set to be passed at the closing session of 14th National People’s Congress.

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The law aims to forge a strong “sense of community for the Chinese nation” and advance “common prosperity” among the country’s 56 ethnic groups. Photo: Jelly Tse
Two Sessions 2026

Why China may gain from US moving military assets for Iran war

‘Any weakening’ of US presence in Asia-Pacific will work to someone’s advantage, ‘and you can imagine who that is’: cross-strait adviser.

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Two Sessions 2026

China’s ‘two sessions’ 2026: everything you need to know

From US ties post-Iran to new tech innovation strategies, here is everything you need to know about China’s ongoing ‘two sessions’.

China energy security

How is China insulating its energy security amid geopolitical shocks?

Increasing oil and gas exploration, pushing ahead with green transition among contingency plans in place, geologist NPC deputy says.

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Vehicles refuel at a petrol station in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, on Monday ahead of an increase in petrol and diesel prices that came into effect on Tuesday. Photo: Xinhua
Two Sessions 2026

Stability comes first: Chinese defence chief signals Beijing’s strategic caution

Dong Jun’s remarks stressing prudence as Xi-Trump summit looms and amid Iran war suggest no military action on Taiwan for now, analysts say.

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Dong Jun has served as China’s defence minister since December 2023. Photo: Reuters
Hong Kong economy

Exclusive | Hong Kong tipped to be world’s top financial hub amid global yuan expansion plan

National People’s Congress deputy Li Yinquan says Hong Kong to gain substantially from Beijing’s push to internationalise yuan’s reach.

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Science

China can’t buy Elon Musk’s theory on space-based AI centres: experts

Beijing urged to focus on installing computing system in orbit to analyse data from satellites making information gathering more effective.

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Two Sessions 2026

China’s top court says it treats AI cases with care without stifling innovation

Supreme People’s Procuratorate says 4,739 individuals prosecuted last year in cases related to ‘data security breaches’.

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In an annual work report presented to the NPC, the president of China’s supreme court says courts “properly adjudicated cases” involving AI and “accurately grasped the ‘margin for error’ in technological innovation”. Photo: Reuters
China-Asean relations

China extols Myanmar gang executions, pledging to protect citizens abroad

Chief of China’s top court highlights crackdown on Southeast Asia crime rings in annual ‘two sessions’ report.

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In recent months, China has announced the sentencing and executions of several core members of the Bai and Ming crime families of northern Myanmar. Photo: Handout
Two Sessions 2026

‘Two sessions’ 2026

China’s Premier Li Qiang lowered the annual GDP growth target to 4.5 to 5 per cent when he delivered the government work report at the “two sessions”, the country’s biggest annual political gathering.

Hong Kong politics

Opinion | Hong Kong must keep pace with China’s development push

In the run-up to and during China’s ‘two sessions’, Beijing leaders have made it clear to the Hong Kong government that it must improve its governance and efficiency.

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