BEIJING: China’s premier will no longer hold a news conference after the country’s annual legislative meeting, Beijing announced Monday, ending a three-decadeslong practice that had been an exceedingly rare opportunity for journalists to interact with top Chinese leaders.
The decision, announced a day before the opening of this year’s legislative conclave, was to many observers a sign of the country’s increasing information opacity, even as the government has declared its commitment to transparency and fostering a friendly business environment.
It also reinforced how China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, has consolidated power, relegating all other officials, including the premier — the country’s No. 2, who oversees government ministries — to much less visible roles. China’s current premier, Li Qiang, was widely considered to have been elevated to the role last year because of his loyalty to Xi.
“Barring any special circumstances, there will not be a premier’s news conference in the next few years after this year’s legislative session either,” Lou Qinjian, a spokesperson for the legislature, said at a news briefing about this year’s session.
Lou offered few details about the decision, except to say that there would be a greater number of Q&A sessions with lower-level officials instead.
On Chinese social media, censors were closely regulating discussion of the change. The comments sections of many official news reports about the announcement were closed. On the popular platform Weibo, a search returned an error message: “Sorry, this content cannot be displayed.”
China’s premier has hosted a news conference at the end of the annual legislative meeting, known as the National People’s Congress, since 1993. Though the answers rarely departed from the official line, it was a rare chance for journalists — including foreign ones — to ask questions directly of top leaders.
At past conferences, reporters have asked premiers about issues including the price of vegetables in Beijing, alleged human rights abuses and the possibility of direct elections. In 2012, the news conference by China’s then-premier, Wen Jiabao, lasted three hours; journalists asked about self-immolations by Tibetans protesting Chinese rule and a political scandal engulfing Bo Xilai, the Communist Party secretary of a major city.
The next day, Bo was dismissed from his position and was later charged with and convicted of bribery.
The decision, announced a day before the opening of this year’s legislative conclave, was to many observers a sign of the country’s increasing information opacity, even as the government has declared its commitment to transparency and fostering a friendly business environment.
It also reinforced how China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, has consolidated power, relegating all other officials, including the premier — the country’s No. 2, who oversees government ministries — to much less visible roles. China’s current premier, Li Qiang, was widely considered to have been elevated to the role last year because of his loyalty to Xi.
“Barring any special circumstances, there will not be a premier’s news conference in the next few years after this year’s legislative session either,” Lou Qinjian, a spokesperson for the legislature, said at a news briefing about this year’s session.
Lou offered few details about the decision, except to say that there would be a greater number of Q&A sessions with lower-level officials instead.
On Chinese social media, censors were closely regulating discussion of the change. The comments sections of many official news reports about the announcement were closed. On the popular platform Weibo, a search returned an error message: “Sorry, this content cannot be displayed.”
China’s premier has hosted a news conference at the end of the annual legislative meeting, known as the National People’s Congress, since 1993. Though the answers rarely departed from the official line, it was a rare chance for journalists — including foreign ones — to ask questions directly of top leaders.
At past conferences, reporters have asked premiers about issues including the price of vegetables in Beijing, alleged human rights abuses and the possibility of direct elections. In 2012, the news conference by China’s then-premier, Wen Jiabao, lasted three hours; journalists asked about self-immolations by Tibetans protesting Chinese rule and a political scandal engulfing Bo Xilai, the Communist Party secretary of a major city.
The next day, Bo was dismissed from his position and was later charged with and convicted of bribery.