Wed Mar 12 06:37:11 UTC 2025: ## China’s Parliament Concludes Amid Uncertainty and Economic Concerns

**Beijing, March 12, 2025** – The annual session of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) concluded on Tuesday with lingering questions surrounding the absence of its chairman, Zhao Leji, and anxieties over the nation’s slowing economy. While the session largely proceeded as expected, with the government work report and budget approved, Zhao’s absence since Monday due to a reported respiratory tract infection marked a first in recent history. This was compounded by the absence of all Politburo Standing Committee members at the closing ceremony, also unprecedented in decades.

The NPC’s closure comes amidst a complex geopolitical landscape. The ongoing trade war with the U.S. under President Donald Trump, coupled with sluggish domestic consumption, has cast a shadow over China’s economic performance. Despite advancements in AI technology, the country’s economic growth barely reached the targeted 5% last year, settling at $19 trillion, a figure the government aims to repeat in 2025.

Further adding to the uncertainty is the strained relationship with the U.S. and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. While President Xi Jinping has maintained close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the U.S. strategic pivot towards Russia adds another layer of complexity to China’s economic and geopolitical outlook.

In an effort to stimulate the economy, the Chinese government is focusing on boosting domestic consumption through measures like easing borrowing limits and offering rebates for consumers replacing old appliances and cars. Additionally, President Xi met with prominent business leaders, including Alibaba founder Jack Ma, to assure them of a more business-friendly environment and encourage private investment, aiming to counteract the impact of previous anti-monopoly crackdowns. The cancellation of Premier Li’s annual press conference, a long-standing tradition, also added to the air of unusual political developments. The absence of key figures and the economic uncertainties overshadow the NPC’s otherwise routine conclusion.

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