mar 5, 2018 - Li Keqiang opens National People's Congress

Description:

Key takeaways from his presentation of the report:

• continue to expand of air and naval defence capabilities and modernisation of technology and equipment
• build stronger border, coastal and air defences
• increase defence spending by 8.1 per cent in 2018
• the leadership of Xi Jinping and the Communist Party over the military must be fully observed
• China must fight to defend its interests in a world with increased protectionism
• Nonetheless, China will continue to open up its markets – including the telecoms, health care, education and new-energy vehicle sectors – and remove foreign ownership caps on banks, brokerage houses and fund management firms, he said, repeating a promise made by Beijing during Trump’s visit to China in November
• the central government would provide full support to Hong Kong & Macau in helping the special administrative regions integrate with the country’s national development plans
• On Taiwan, Li said Beijing would not tolerate any plots or acts aimed at achieving independence for the self-ruled island. At the same time, he said Taiwanese people would be given the same access to work, study and social welfare opportunities on the mainland as any other Chinese

[SCMP, “Key takeaways”]