| |
BEIJING: China will begin its annual legislative session - the National People's Congress (NPC) - on Wednesday.
Top of the agenda are the appointment of new government leaders and the restructuring of government departments.
Close attention will also be paid to the prime minister's work report for clues on how the country will take measures to tackle its rising inflation and overheated economy.
The session marks the start of a fresh five-year government cycle.
Touted as the fifth-generation leadership, several will be appointed to key cabinet positions at this year's National People's Congress session.
Xi Jinping is expected to be appointed vice president while Li Keqiang, Zhang Dejiang and Wang Qishan are expected to be named vice premiers.
Mr Wang is also likely to take over the finance portfolio from his immediate predecessor Huang Ju, who died last year.
Director of National University of Singapore's East Asian Institute Yang Dali said: "Currently the indication is Wang Qishan, the former mayor of Beijing, will become the vice-premier in charge of that sector. He has plenty of experiences troubleshooting in Guangdong and the financial sector so in that sense his appointment will provide a bit of presence in promoting new policy changes in the sector."
Also on the agenda will be the creation of super-ministries that merge government departments with similar or overlapping functions as an on-going effort by China to streamline its bureaucracy.
Details on the setting up of the ministries of finance, energy and transportation are expected to be discussed during the session.
In line with China's greater emphasis on environmental protection, the State Environmental Protection Administration will also be elevated to the status of a full ministry.
Dr Yang said: "China is following the trend of many other countries, including for example Japan and of course the United States, with super cabinet departments. So in that sense China wants to have fewer ministries, more concentrated and more focused on certain areas, provide better coordination in terms of policy and of course to enhance policy effectiveness."
The restructuring of the bureaucracy, however, has been fiercely opposed by bureaucrats with vested interests, and those who worry that their powers might either be curtailed or even eradicated.
One of the bills that will be tabled at the NPC will impose higher fines on those responsible for causing severe pollution.
Previously firms could be fined for water pollution, but this will be the first time that individuals could face punishment.
The bill is timely, given the damage inflicted on China's environment and waterways over the last three decades of rapid economic development.
Most analysts agree that since last year's party congress, both President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have emerged stronger, and are now in better positions to steer the country's development over the next five years.
Even so, 2008 is likely to pose a challenge to the Chinese leadership, given the high inflation and overheating of the country's economy.
There is also the prospect of a global economic slowdown.
Given the more diverse leadership, there is a sense among some observers that the decision-making process will henceforth become lengthier, more cumbersome, and even more complicated.
But this supposedly more cumbersome process might actually be a good thing for China's long-term development, as it means that the different interests and concerns of different segments of the population will, hopefully, be represented by different segments of the political leadership. - CNA/ac
|
