National People's Congress opens tomorrow to set policies for 2009
More than 2,000 delegates will be at the meeting but they are usually required to just ratify what the Communist Party has already decided.
Still the sessions are interesting because the country’s top leaders are there and everyone is keen on hearing what they have to say.
China is currently experiencing the effects of the world’s economic crisis. The collapse of its exports has left 26 million urban workers out of a job. Unemployment is now estimated to hover around 10 per cent.
In the past the Communists were able to justify their power thanks to rapid economic growth and improving standards of living.
But many today in China are wondering what the NPC will do to tackle the challenges facing the economy.
In February an open letter was signed by 11,000 people making eight suggestions for rural reform, including direct election of village chiefs and the extension of educational and social security benefits that urban Chinese enjoy to rural families as well.
In December of last year, ‘Charter 08’ was issued calling for greater respect for people’s rights, the separation of powers, free elections and other democratic reforms. Hundreds of people put their signature to the document.
But China’s leaders “don't want any surprises. They want to project an image of unity from the top level all the way down to the base. “
Talks about political reforms are thus not very likely.
Many of those who signed Charter 08 have been interrogated by police and its alleged authors have been arrested.
Tang Xiaozhao, who signed the appeal, wrote on her blog that police told her the charter “was against the party and against socialism.”
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