Key issues at China's NPC
(Reuters) -- Key issues at China's annual session of parliament, the National People's Congress, which opened on Friday in Beijing:
Economy | Unrest | Banking | Taiwan | HK | Three Represents | Property | Rights
Economy
China boasts the fastest growing major economy in the world, but worries about resurgent inflation, bubbles in sectors such as property and steel and wants to moderate the pace of growth.
There is constant pressure from big trading partners for China to reform its fixed currency policy to better reflect the strength of the economy. It is also trying to reform big state banks burdened with an estimated $240 billion in bad loans.
State planners will reveal economic targets, the finance minister will unveil the budget and the central bank and bank regulators are due to hold news conferences at the session.
Unrest
China's leaders worry over a rich-poor gap that has widened as the wealthy coastal regions and cities race ahead of the hinterland. Moves are afoot to boost rural incomes by cutting taxes and fees and by giving farmers more rights over their land.
In cities, the government is hoping private business can soak up millions of workers being laid off by defunct state firms and is pumping money into the "rust belt" northeast to try to revive industry there and head off frequent social unrest.
Banking reform
Crucial reforms of the debt-laden banking sector, perhaps the weakest link in the economy, will be charted, but new rescue plans are unlikely so soon after China injected $45 billion in foreign exchange reserves into two state banks to help them write off debts.
There could be criticism over the unprecedented tapping of the reserves, which did not require approval from parliament and sparked debate over moral hazard. There could also be calls to involve the NPC in decisions involving state funding.
Taiwan
China watchers will pore over Premier Wen Jiabao's every word on diplomatic foe Taiwan for hints of reprisals over the island's first referendum, alongside presidential elections on March 20.
China has been rallying against Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's re-election bid later this month.
Beijing views the poll as a move towards independence and has warned of war. But most analysts rule out military conflict in the near future and say Wen will be firm in his opposition to a separate Taiwan but soft in tone.
The premier delivers a speech at the opening of parliament on Friday and holds a news conference on closing day, March 14.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong will be high on the agenda, with heated debate on patriotism in the free-wheeling territory spilling into parliamentary discussions.
Beijing is worried about growing calls for democracy in Hong Kong -- highlighted by a march of 500,000 demonstrators in July -- fearing sentiment could spread from the former British colony to the mainland and escalate into demands for independence.
China took steps to boost Hong Kong's economy but has become increasingly strident against demands for more voting rights.
Three Represents
Jiang Zemin, who retired as president a year ago, is expected to join China's pantheon of socialist greats when his "Three Represents" political theory is enshrined in the constitution as one of the guiding principles of the nation.
The "Three Represents" says the Communist Party stands for advanced productive forces, advanced culture and the interests of the majority of the Chinese people. The theory paved the way for the party to admit entrepreneurs to its ranks.
Analysts said the move would expand Jiang's influence behind the scenes. The former party chief has handed both of China's top jobs to Hu Jintao, but is expected to retain his post as chairman of the state Central Military Commission -- the top military job.
Private property
As a nod to the role of entrepreneurs and the private sector, China is expected to amend its constitution to protect all kinds of private property obtained legally.
This will mean China putting private assets, seized by the ruling Communist Party after taking power in 1949, on an equal footing with public property -- a move seen as key to protecting wealth and sustaining economic development.
Some analysts see this as a significant step by a government keen to ensure its political philosophies are increasingly in tune with the realities of modern China.
Human rights
Legislators are set to amend the constitution with the phrase: "The state respects and guarantees human rights." Analysts say this may reflect a genuine recognition by the Hu-Wen leadership of the need to improve rights conditions.
But China's concept of human rights differs from international norms, focusing on social and economic rights rather than individual political rights. Overseas groups say it won't have a quick impact but opens the door for future change.
Terminó este miércoles (15) la X Asamblea Popular Nacional de la República Popular de China, que se llevó a cabo en la ciudad de Beijing. Muchos temas entraron en la lista para ser debatidos en sesiones que se prolongaron por una semana. 2.937 delegados de todas las provincias, municipalidades y regiones administrativas especiales asistieron a la cita. La sesión fue presidida por Wu Bangguo.

La Asamblea Popular Nacional es el cuerpo legislativo más grande de la República Popular de China. El congreso está compuesto por miembros de la Conferencia Consultiva Política del Pueblo de China, una coalición de 10 partidos. En la práctica, sus recomendaciones no son obligantes pero contribuyen a que la votación final sea menos conflíctiva al tratar de lograr el consenso durante el ejercicio legislativo, que luego pasa a la aprobación final de los oficiales del Partido Comunista Chino y el Consejo de Estado de la República Popular China.

El sistema permite remover un tema controvertido de la Asamblea Popular Nacional cuando surgen serias diferencias sobre el contenido de la legislación. Esto ocurrió cuando se discutió la ley de propiedad de la República Popular de China, la cual fue originalmente programada para su aprobación en este congreso (2006), pero debió ser suspendida tras objeciones que provenían de los miembros de la izquierda ilustrada, quienes argumentaron que el borrador de la ley no protegía suficientemente las medidas del estado. En el ejemplo citado, el problema surgió tras señalarse como una copia "occidentaliza" los proyectos de ley referente a la propiedad industrial e intelectual.

Los asuntos formales materia de discusión incluyeron ''Los tres problemas rurales'', los cuales se refieren al programa de desarrollo rural de las regiones bajo el control directo del partido popular chino, presentado por Hu Jintao y Wen Jiabao, represión a la corrupción y un estudio de "los tres actos" como guía de la política china en los días venideros. Formalmente, el primer ministro Wen Jiabao presentó el reporte anual del gobierno al congreso, esquematizando la política pública y los progresos desde el 2005. Además se revisó el XI Plan Quinquenal, se aprobó el presupuesto para el año fiscal 2006, así como el informe de sistema judicial. Wu Bangguo fue el encargado de revisar el trabajo del comité de la Asamblea Popular.

En los diarios oficiales, la frase ''"corazón del liderazgo"'' fue omitida cuando se refiere a Hu Jintao; la medida se impuso al considerarse que la frase es muy parecida al eslogan ''"Unidos bajo el corazón del liderazgo"'', de Jiang Zeming, tema que fue usado frecuentemente en China durante los años del mandato de este último. El viceprimer ministro Huang Ju estuvo ausente debido a problemas de salud.