--- source: National People's Congress (全国人民代表大会) url: http://www.npc.gov.cn/rdxwzx/xwzx2026/ document_type: html + pdf date_retrieved: 2026-03-17 period: March 4-12, 2026 (Second Session of 14th NPC & 14th CPPCC) parent_publication: National People's Congress 2026 Session indicators_covered: [Legislative outcomes, Government reports, Policy directions] --- # 2026 National People's Congress — March 4-12 Session Report ## Overview The 14th National People's Congress (NPC) 4th Session and 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) 4th Session convened in Beijing from **March 4 to March 12, 2026**. The NPC sessions closed with the passage of multiple major bills and policy decisions reflecting China's legislative priorities for the 15th Five-Year Plan period and immediate policy directions. **Key Session Dates:** - Opening: March 4, 2026 - Closing: March 12, 2026 (afternoon) --- ## Major Legislative Outcomes The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPCSC) approved passage of **24 major bills**, including: ### New Laws Enacted (6) 1. **Law on Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress** (民族团结进步促进法) - Reinforces commitment to forging a shared identity among all Chinese ethnic groups - Establishes legal framework for inter-ethnic contact, exchange, and integration - Part of broader effort to build a Chinese national community 2. **Law on State Development Planning** (国家发展规划法) - Codifies the party's practice of creating and implementing five-year plans into law - Elevates strategic planning function to constitutional level - Provides institutional framework for directing national development over plan periods 3. **Law on Private Economic Development** (民营经济促进法) - Establishes equal treatment, fair competition, equal protection, and common development principles - Covers market access, factor guarantees, regulatory standards, and rights protection - Provides legal safeguard for sustained, healthy, high-quality development of private sector 4. **Law on Emergencies in Public Health** (突发公共卫生事件应对法) - Builds on COVID-19 pandemic experience - Strengthens prevention, control and response frameworks - Provides institutional mechanisms for managing public health crises 5. **Law on Atomic Energy** (原子能法) - Provides legal framework for atomic energy research, development, and peaceful utilization - Ensures healthy, safe, sustainable development of atomic energy sector 6. **Law on National Parks** (国家公园法) - Establishes legal status of national parks - Creates framework for planning, designation, protection, management and oversight - Guides high-quality construction and management of national park system ### Laws Modified (14) - **Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Law** — Incorporates pandemic control experience - **Food Safety Law** — Addresses regulatory gaps, strengthens full-chain oversight - **Village Committee Organization Law** — Refines governance structures and oversight mechanisms - **Urban Residents Committee Organization Law** — Updates basic-level democratic governance - **National Standard Language and Text Law** — Reinforces legal status of standard Chinese language - **Environmental Protection Tax Law** — Expands volatile organic compound coverage - **Civil Aviation Law** — Modernizes regulatory framework - **Unfair Competition Law** — Strengthens market regulation - **Maritime Law** (海商法) — Aligns with international standards for high-level opening up - **Arbitration Law** (仲裁法) — Updates dispute resolution mechanisms - **Foreign Trade Law** (对外贸易法) — Facilitates international commerce - **Public Security Administration Punishment Law** — Adjusts penalties and procedures to fit modern governance - **Cybersecurity Law** — Strengthens liability provisions, data security, personal information protection - **Fisheries Law** — Balances resource conservation with sustainable utilization ### Resolutions and Decisions - Approval of Government Work Report - Approval of 15th Five-Year Plan Outline - Approval of NPCSC Work Report - Approval of Supreme People's Court Work Report - Approval of Supreme People's Procuratorate Work Report - Legal Cleanup Decision — Declaring 104 prior laws/interpretations/decisions of the Standing Committee ineffective; submitting 35 prior NPC enactments to this session for effect determination - Authorization for State Council to temporarily adjust certain seed law provisions in the Xinjiang Free Trade Zone --- ## The "Three Channels" — Public Communication ### Structure and Purpose On March 5, 9, and 10, 2026, the NPC held three major public forums — the "delegated corridor" (代表通道), "committee corridor" (委员通道), and "minister corridor" (部长通道) — where representatives, committee members, and senior government officials addressed the press and public directly. ### Key Themes from the Three Channels #### Precision in Questions Journalists carefully prepared targeted questions addressing pressing national concerns: - **Agricultural seed development** in relation to food security (during Awakening of Insects seasonal period) - **Integration of technology and industry innovation** — role of universities in this fusion - **Battery recycling challenges** — managing the coming wave of retired power batteries - **Rural revitalization** — maintaining protections against large-scale poverty re-emergence - **E-commerce and agricultural modernization** — rural development pathways - **Healthcare equity** — out-of-province medical insurance coordination #### Responsive Government Officials Government ministers and officials demonstrated candid engagement with sensitive issues: **Transport Minister Liu Wei** (交通运输部部长刘伟) addressed citizen pain points: - High-power charging capacity improvements to alleviate "difficulty finding chargers, long queues" - Age-friendly restroom renovation in highway service areas — increasing sit-toilet proportion to >20% for elderly accessibility **Science and Technology Minister Yin Hezhun** (科技部部长阴和俊) discussed: - Targeted research and development in integrated circuits and artificial intelligence - Strengthening core competitiveness in emerging technologies **State-Owned Assets Administration Committee Chair Zhang Yuzhu** (国务院国资委主任张玉卓) outlined: - Central enterprise industrial renewal initiatives - Future industry launch and development programs **State Sports Administration Director Gao Zhidan** (国家体育总局局长高志丹) addressed: - Rectification of dysfunctional "sports entertainment" fan culture ("饭圈" corruption) #### Authentic, Relatable Language Officials and representatives spoke in direct, everyday language rather than formal bureaucratese: - China First Auto Works Research Deputy Chief Technician Yang Yongxiu: *"I have feelings for these hunks of iron. The sense of accomplishment from solving a difficult technical problem beats eating anything."* - University of Science and Technology Vice Chancellor Pan Jianwei: *"As long as we maintain resolve and self-reliance in innovation, leveraging our new-type centralized system, we can definitely turn 'choke points' into development 'support points.'"* - Industrial and Information Technology Minister Li Lecheng: *"The choreography and talents on display in robot competitions aren't just 'martial arts' and 'talent shows' — they represent the 'Chinese kung fu' that Chinese artificial intelligence shows as it transitions from technological breakthrough to practical application."* #### Data and Confidence Ministers buttressed remarks with concrete statistics to underscore progress: - Basic research investment reached 7% of total R&D — an all-time high - AI core industry scale exceeded 1.2 trillion yuan - Annual vegetable production surpasses 800 million tons - Daily parcel delivery averages 550 million packages ### Social Media Engagement Discussion of session remarks generated widespread online engagement: - Trending topics: "Recommend eating less oil, more beans and dairy" (agriculture minister's dietary suggestions) - "Four-season fresh produce availability" - "Making 15-minute fitness circles a happiness-of-life circle" - Nationwide praise for the transparency and human-scale focus of government communication --- ## NPCSC Work Report — Annual Legislative and Oversight Summary Presented by NPCSC Chairman Zhao Leji on March 9, 2026, the report documented achievements across constitutional oversight, legislation, and supervision. ### Constitutional and Legal Framework #### Constitutional Implementation and Monitoring - Strengthened constitutional position and monitoring - Completed **合宪性审查** (constitutionality review) of all legislative processes - Conducted **备案审查** (filing review) of 2,218 administrative regulations, supervision regulations, local laws, autonomous region ordinances and single acts, and judicial interpretations - Reviewed 6,705 public petitions for review - Launched concentrated clearance of regulations affecting private enterprise development and equal enterprise treatment #### Key Constitutional Updates - Established **October 25 as Taiwan Liberation Day Commemoration** — reinforcing the one-China principle and commitment to unification, marking 80 years since Taiwan's return to Chinese sovereignty in 1945 #### Legal Cleanup - **Standing Committee** enacted blanket review declaring **104 prior enactments ineffective** - Submitted **35 NPC prior enactments** to current session for determination of legal effect - Ensures coherence and consistency across all legal instruments ### Legislative Work (2025 Summary Extending into 2026) **Scale:** 40 bills/interpretations/decisions reviewed; 24 passed - 6 new laws enacted - 14 laws modified - 1 legal interpretation issued - 3 resolutions on significant legal issues **Treaty/International Agreements:** 9 major treaties and important agreements approved ### Priority Legislation Domains #### Economic Development and Market Framework - **Private Economic Promotion Law** — Equal treatment, fair competition, equal protection framework - **Unfair Competition Law modification** — Strengthened market regulation - **Civil Aviation Law modification** — Modernized regulatory approach - **Fisheries Law modification** — Resource protection and sustainable use balance - **Agricultural Land Protection and Quality Enhancement Law** — Three-part protection: quantity, quality, ecological integrity #### National Development Planning - **State Development Planning Law** — Institutionalizes five-year planning into constitutional law - Undergone multiple comprehensive reviews and unit-by-unit deliberation before submission to session #### Social and Public Welfare - **Emergency Public Health Response Law** — Built on pandemic experience - **Infectious Disease Prevention Law modification** — Strengthened response frameworks - **Food Safety Law modification** — Addressed regulatory shortcomings - **Public Interest Litigation Law review** — Protection of state and social public interests - **National Firefighter-Rescue Personnel Law review** — Legal framework for emergency responders - **Health Insurance Law, Early Childhood Care Law, Social Assistance Law** — Under review for targeted improvements #### Ecological and Environmental Protection - **Ecological and Environmental Code** (生态环保法典) — Comprehensive compilation of ecosystem theory, institutions, and practice since 18th Party Congress; full systematic overhaul of environmental law framework with openness, compatibility, and adaptability preserved - **National Parks Law** — Legal status, planning, protection, management, oversight mechanisms - **Environmental Protection Tax Law modification** — Volatile organic compounds fully brought into tax scope - **South Pole Activities and Environmental Protection Law** — Antarctic activity regulation and protection #### National and Public Safety - **Atomic Energy Law** — Research, development, peaceful utilization legal framework - **Public Security Administration Punishment Law modification** — Modern sentencing, enhanced due process - **Cybersecurity Law modification** — Stronger liability enforcement, data security, personal information protection - **Dangerous Chemicals Safety Law** — Full-chain, multi-link safety management across lifecycle - **Prison Law review** — Safe, rule-of-law, civilization prison construction ### Supervision and Oversight Work #### Listening and Review of Executive Reports 22 supervisory reports reviewed covering: - **Economic Development:** New quality productive forces, technology commercialization - **Employment and Welfare:** Flexible employment and gig economy worker protection, culture-tourism fusion development, higher education fiscal distribution, urban-rural integration mechanisms - **Environmental:** Annual environmental conditions/targets, climate change and carbon neutrality, water resource tax pilots - **Law Enforcement and Judiciary:** Criminal sentence execution, maritime justice #### Enforcement Checks (5 Laws Reviewed) 1. **Trade Union Law** — Grassroots union building, worker rights protection 2. **Food Safety Law** — Full-process regulatory responsibility, whole-chain quality assurance 3. **Forest Law** — Strictest institutions and rule of law for forest cultivation and protection 4. **Circular Economy Promotion Law** — Waste recycling systems, resource efficiency, green production/living 5. **Energy Conservation Law** — Full-spectrum energy savings across all economic sectors and development phases #### Specialized Inquiries and Research - 2 specialized inquiries conducted (专题询问) - 11 specialized research projects (专题调研) - 26 standing committee research reports generated; 50 reports from 1,000+ NPC representatives - Research focused on: tax incentive regulation, capital expenditure management, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area, rural industry development, ethnic community building, overseas Chinese affairs, food product safety, national security law implementation ### Representative and Democratic Participation #### Representation Law Implementation - Comprehensive implementation of newly amended Representative Law - Near-total training coverage of all national and local NPC representatives - Standing Committee members maintained regular contact with 399 national NPC representatives - 276 representative visits to Standing Committee sessions; 5 delegated attendee discussion meetings - 900+ representatives participated in legislative research, enforcement checks, financial-economic monitoring, external engagement #### Representative Proposals and Recommendations - 1,622 proposals and recommendations submitted during session; individual written responses provided - 23 priority recommendations selected for intensive follow-up by 20 units and 10 specialized committees - 269 proposals from 14th NPC 3rd Session completed review and answered; 27 legislative items passed or submitted; 50 items incorporated into five-year planning #### Public Engagement - 22.1 million citizen letters and visits processed through proper channels - Standing Committee held regular reporting sessions on correspondence work - Citizens' survey preferences: social safety net, community governance, comprehensive strict party discipline --- ## Specific Remarks on Key Legislation ### National Development Planning Law Described as a **major political and legislative task** of the party center. The law institutionalizes the proven practice of national plan design and implementation, providing: - Constitutional-level elevation of strategic planning function - Enhanced legal status for five-year and longer-term national development guidance - Two comprehensive reviews and two unit-by-unit reviews completed by NPCSC ### Ecological and Environmental Code Represents the most comprehensive environmental legislation overhaul since the 18th Party Congress. Key features: - Systematic re-codification of all ecosystem-related theory, institutions, and practice - Maintains flexibility for future amendments and compatibility with related laws - Balances comprehensive coverage with adaptability to emerging environmental challenges - Previously underwent two full-session reviews and two phase-by-phase reviews ### Law on Promotion of Ethnic Unity and Progress Reinforces constitutional commitment to building a Chinese national community. Framework addresses: - Inter-ethnic contact (往来), exchange (交流), and fusion (交融) - Common unity of struggle and common prosperity - Legal grounding for all-ethnic-group solidarity and participation --- ## Government Work Performance and 2026 Targets Based on remarks during the "Three Channels" and ministerial reports: ### Economic Outlook for 2026 - **GDP Growth Target:** 4.5%–5.0% (announced by National Development and Reform Commission) - **GDP Increment Projection:** Exceeding 6 trillion yuan - **Focus:** Developing "new quality productive forces" — massive resource injection into prioritized technological and industrial sectors ### Key Government Initiatives Announced **Agricultural and Food:** - Dietary guidance emphasizing reduced oil, increased beans and legumes, dairy products - Modernization of agricultural product presentation and e-commerce marketing - Year-round availability of diverse fresh produce through supply chain coordination **Transportation:** - Expansion of high-power electric vehicle charging infrastructure - Age-friendly renovation of rest areas with increased accessible facilities **Technology and Innovation:** - Artificial intelligence and integrated circuit research acceleration - Transition from lab-to-production scaling ("from breakthrough to practical application") - Emphasis on human-centered AI application displays **Sports and Culture:** - Elimination of "饭圈" (entertainment fan culture) distortions in sports - Sports sector discipline and integrity **Environment:** - Water resource management and tax reform pilots - Carbon neutrality progress toward 2030 and 2060 targets - Expansion of environmental protection into all economic sectors --- ## International Perspective Multiple foreign media representatives present at the Three Channels noted China's enhanced transparency and democratic engagement: **Arab Press Representative:** The detailed, data-backed responses on global topics like technological innovation and green transformation provided unprecedented insight into China's confidence and strategic direction. **Observer Comments:** The shift from formal bureaucratic language to relatable, everyday conversation — with specific case examples and measurable outcomes — demonstrated a more accessible, people-first governance communication style. --- ## Conclusion The March 2026 National People's Congress session represents a consolidation of legislative frameworks supporting the 15th Five-Year Plan while signaling immediate policy priorities: technological self-reliance, environmental stewardship, private sector equality, ethnic unity, and responsive governance aligned with lived experience of ordinary citizens. The "Three Channels" format, in particular, emerged as a significant innovation in state communication — moving beyond press releases to direct, substantive dialogue between government and public, with ministers addressing concrete challenges (charger availability, elderly comfort in rest areas, food safety) alongside grand strategic vision (technological dominance, carbon neutrality, national cohesion). This session closes the 14th NPC's fourth gathering with robust legislative foundations for China's next development cycle while demonstrating institutional responsiveness to popular concerns and international engagement expectations.