The Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress Concludes in Beijing

Approves the Government Work Report, the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the Work Report of the Standing Committee of the NPC, and More

Enacts the Ecological Environment Code, the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, and the National Development Planning Law; President Xi Jinping Signs Presidential Decrees

Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, and Han Zheng Attend the Session on the Rostrum

Zhao Leji Presides and Delivers Speech

On the afternoon of March 12, the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) concluded at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Party and state leaders Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, and Han Zheng attended the session on the rostrum. Photo by Xie Huanchi/Xinhua

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 12 -- The Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress concluded at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on the afternoon of the 12th after successfully completing its agenda. The session approved the Government Work Report, the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the Work Report of the Standing Committee of the NPC, and more. The session passed the Ecological Environment Code, the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, the National Development Planning Law, and the Decision on Approving the Report of the Standing Committee of the NPC on the Work of Legal Clearance and the Handling Opinions on Relevant Laws and Decisions. President Xi Jinping signed Presidential Decrees No. 70, 71, 72, and 73.

The closing meeting was presided over by Zhao Leji, the executive chairman and permanent chairman of the presidium of the session. Other permanent chairmen and executive chairmen of the presidium, including Li Hongzhong, Wang Dongming, Xiao Jie, Zheng Jianbang, Ding Zhongli, Cai Dafeng, He Wei, Wu Weihua, Tie Ning, Peng Qinghua, Zhang Qingwei, Losang Jamcan, Shohrat Zakir, and Liu Qi, took their seats on the rostrum.

Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng, and other members of the session's presidium were present on the rostrum.

A total of 2,878 deputies were eligible to attend the meeting. 2,762 deputies were present, and 116 were absent, meeting the quorum requirement.

At 3 p.m., Zhao Leji declared the meeting open.

At the meeting, a resolution on the Government Work Report was adopted by vote. The resolution stated that the session highly commended the major achievements made in China's economic and social development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, fully affirmed the work of the State Council over the past year, agreed with the main objectives, major tasks for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, and the work arrangements for 2026 proposed in the report, and decided to approve the report.

The meeting adopted by vote the resolution on the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development. The resolution stated that the session agreed with the review report of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee of the NPC and decided to approve the outline. The meeting required that during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, we must fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, coordinate the overall plan for advancing all five-sphere integrated progress and the strategic plan for comprehensively deepening reform, coordinating the overall situation both domestically and internationally, fully, accurately, and comprehensively implement the new development philosophy, accelerate the building of a new development paradigm, adhere to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability, focus on economic development, promote high-quality development, take reform and innovation as the fundamental driving force, meet the people's ever-growing needs for a better life as the fundamental goal, ensure comprehensive and strict governance of the Party as the fundamental guarantee, promote the economy to achieve qualitative improvement and reasonable quantitative growth, make solid progress in promoting well-rounded human development and common prosperity for all, and ensure decisive progress toward the basic realization of socialist modernization.

At the meeting, the Ecological Environment Code, the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, and the National Development Planning Law were adopted by vote. The Ecological Environment Code will come into force on August 15, 2026, the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress will come into force on July 1, 2026, and the National Development Planning Law will come into force on the date of promulgation.

The meeting adopted by vote the resolution of the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress on the Implementation of the 2025 Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the 2026 Plan for National Economic and Social Development, deciding to approve the report on the implementation of the 2025 Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the draft 2026 Plan for National Economic and Social Development, and to approve the 2026 Plan for National Economic and Social Development. The meeting also adopted by vote the resolution of the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress on the Implementation of the 2025 Central and Local Budgets and the 2026 Central and Local Budgets, deciding to approve the report on the implementation of the 2025 Central and Local Budgets and the draft 2026 Central and Local Budgets, and to approve the 2026 Central Budget.

The meeting adopted by vote the resolution of the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress on the Work Report of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. The resolution stated that the session fully affirmed the work of the Standing Committee of the NPC over the past year, agreed with the tasks for the coming year proposed in the report, and decided to approve the report.

At the meeting, the resolution on the work report of the Supreme People's Court and the resolution on the work report of the Supreme People's Procuratorate were adopted by vote, deciding to approve both reports.

Standing Committee of the NPC on the Work of Legal Clearance and the Handling Opinions on Relevant Laws and Decisions.

Subsequently, Zhao Leji delivered a speech. He said that the Fourth Session of the 14th NPC had successfully completed all its agenda. The session upheld democracy, pooled wisdom, strictly acted in accordance with the law, and built broad consensus. It was a meeting that rallied strength, focused on practical work, and united in striving forward.

Zhao Leji pointed out that the deputies, shouldering the heavy trust of the Party and the people, conscientiously performed their statutory duties. They deliberated on and approved the Government Work Report and other reports, reviewed and approved the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the annual plan and budget, and deliberated on and passed the Ecological Environment Code, the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, and the National Development Planning Law. The outcomes of the session reflect the high degree of unity between the Party's propositions and the will of the people, demonstrating the firm confidence and tremendous strength to continuously advance the great cause of building a great modern socialist country and national rejuvenation under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core.

Zhao Leji said that formulating and implementing five-year plans is an important experience for the Communist Party of China in governing the country and a significant political advantage of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. The 15th Five-Year Plan period is a crucial time for laying a solid foundation and making comprehensive efforts to basically realize socialist modernization. The successful implementation of the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan is of great significance.

Zhao Leji pointed out that we must deeply study and implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress and all plenary sessions of the 20th Central Committee, conscientiously implement the arrangements of the Fourth Plenary Session, deeply understand the strategic positioning of the Party Central Committee for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, accurately grasp the guiding ideology, important principles, objectives, tasks, and policy measures for economic and social development during this period. In accordance with the arrangements of this session, we must effectively carry out all work, unswervingly focus on doing our own job well, strive to achieve a good start in the 15th Five-Year Plan, and step by step turn the grand vision into a beautiful reality.

Zhao Leji said that we must, based on the functions and responsibilities of the NPC, adhere to the organic unity of the Party's leadership, the people being the masters of the country, and the rule of law. We must practice whole-process people's democracy, uphold, improve, and operate the system of people's congresses well, effectively leverage the advantages of the fundamental political system of the state, and earnestly perform the duties entrusted by the Constitution and laws to provide a legal guarantee for achieving the goals and tasks of the 15th Five-Year Plan. Deputies to the NPC must faithfully represent the interests and will of the people, perform their duties according to law, maintain close ties with the masses, and strive to achieve success and make contributions in their respective posts.

Zhao Leji pointed out that we must unite more closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to guide our thinking, practice, and work, further strengthen our "Four Consciousnesses," firm up our "Four Confidences," and ensure we "Two Upholds." We must be of one heart and one mind, forge ahead with a pioneering spirit, be practical and realistic, strive to achieve political success for the people and through hard work, and constantly open up new horizons in the modernization of socialism with Chinese characteristics.

At 3:40 p.m., Zhao Leji announced: The Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China is now closed. The session concluded with the stirring national anthem.

Also present on the rostrum were: Wang Yi, Yin Li, Shi Taifeng, Liu Guozhong, Li Ganjie, Li Shulei, He Lifeng, Zhang Guoqing, Chen Wenqing, Chen Jining, Chen Min'er, Yuan Jiajun, Huang Kunming, Liu Jin'guo, Wang Xiaohong, Zhang Shengmin, Wu Zhenglong, Shen Yiqin, Zhang Jun, Ying Yong, Hu Chunhua, Shen Yueyue, Wang Yong, Zhou Qiang, He Houhua, Leung Chun-ying, Bateer, Su Hui, Shao Hong, Gao Yunlong, Mu Hong, Xian Hui, Wang Dongfeng, Jiang Xinzhi, Jiang Zuojun, He Baoxiang, Wang Guangqian, Qin Boyong, Zhu Yongxin, Yang Zhen, and others.

Responsible persons from relevant departments of the central and state organs, relevant units of the People's Liberation Army and the Armed Police Force, and all people's organizations attended or observed the meeting.

Foreign diplomats to China observed the meeting.