China's top legislature to continue exchanges with US Congress

Remigio Civitarese, graffiotech.com [JB note: Oddly, the U.S. Congress is not mentioned (missing?) in the text of the article]

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Despite a large-scale anticorruption campaign launched in 2013 by President Xi to clean up the Communist Party's ranks, the heads of private businesses remain welcome in the halls of power as Beijing seeks to rebalance its economy towards domestic consumption and the services sector.

The largest local pro-China political organization said that further integration between Hong Kong and China can destroy the sense of local identity among people, the Communist Party's mouthpiece reported on Thursday.

The work report which was delivered to over 2,200 political advisors in attendance, mentioned implementation of public diplomacy and cultural exchanges, and an increase in the CPPCC'S global communication, with concentration on informing others about the system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation that is apparent under the leadership of the CPC.

Of the tasks before his government in 2017 while presenting the work report, as budget proposals are called in China, the first one on Keqiang's list is to "follow the leadership of Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping as its core". Among them is deepening cooperation and ties with Africa. Addressing the members of the conference, Zhengsheng said "We will offer suggestions on improving and strengthening China's medical assistance effort in Africa".

The fifth session of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and the fifth session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) takes place on March 3 and March 5. The CPPCC and NPC, also known as "Lianghui" in Chinese or the "two sessions" will run until mid-March.

China counts more than 100 billionaires among its top legislators, with 209 of the richest holding wealth almost equivalent to Belgium's annual GDP, according to a report released as the Communist Party's annual parliamentary session started, on Friday.