CHINA PEOPLE'S CONGRESS
China scraps Premier Li's NPC news conference, breaking tradition
Decision to nix briefing closes one of the few windows on Beijing's thinking
Chinese Premier Li Qiang speaks to reporters following the closing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing in March 2023. The customary news conference has been discontinued. © Reuters
CK TAN and CISSY ZHOU, Nikkei staff writers
March 4, 2024 15:25 JST
Updated on March 4, 2024 15:56 JST
BEIJING/HONG KONG -- China said on Monday that Premier Li Qiang will not hold a news conference at the end of the National People's Congress (NPC), a break with decades of tradition that closes one of the few windows on government policymaking.
The announcement was made by spokesperson Lou Qinjian just ahead of the start of China's legislative "two sessions," the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the NPC. Lou said the media and public can "easily access" information through government reports published during the weeklong proceedings, as well as through interviews with lawmakers.
China scraps Premier Li's NPC news conference, breaking tradition
Decision to nix briefing closes one of the few windows on Beijing's thinking
Chinese Premier Li Qiang speaks to reporters following the closing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) in Beijing in March 2023. The customary news conference has been discontinued. © Reuters
CK TAN and CISSY ZHOU, Nikkei staff writers
March 4, 2024 15:25 JST
Updated on March 4, 2024 15:56 JST
BEIJING/HONG KONG -- China said on Monday that Premier Li Qiang will not hold a news conference at the end of the National People's Congress (NPC), a break with decades of tradition that closes one of the few windows on government policymaking.
The announcement was made by spokesperson Lou Qinjian just ahead of the start of China's legislative "two sessions," the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the NPC. Lou said the media and public can "easily access" information through government reports published during the weeklong proceedings, as well as through interviews with lawmakers.