the fourth session of the 14th national people's congress closes in beijing

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

Approval of the Government Work Report, the "15th Five-Year Plan" Outline, the NPC Standing Committee Work Report, etc.

Adoption of the Environmental Code, the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, the National Development Planning Law, etc. Xi Jinping Signs Presidential Orders

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

Zhao Leji Presides and Delivers a Speech

On the afternoon of March 12, the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress 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, Han Zheng, and others sat on the rostrum. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Xie Huanchi.

Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, March 12 — The Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress concluded on the afternoon of the 12th at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing after successfully completing all its agenda items. The session approved the Government Work Report, the "15th Five-Year Plan" Outline, the NPC Standing Committee Work Report, and others. The session adopted the Environmental Code, the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, the National Development Planning Law, and the decision on approving the NPC Standing Committee's report on the legal review work and related laws and decisions. President Xi Jinping signed Presidential Orders No. 70, No. 71, No. 72, and No. 73.

The closing meeting was presided over by Zhao Leji, the executive chairman and standing chairman of the presidium of the session. The executive chairmen and standing 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, sat in the executive chair seats on the rostrum.

Xi Jinping, Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi, Han Zheng, and members of the presidium of the session sat on the rostrum.

The session should have been attended by 2,878 deputies, with 2,762 present and 116 absent, meeting the legal quorum.

At 3 p.m., Zhao Leji announced the start of the meeting.

After voting, the session adopted the resolution on the Government Work Report of the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress. The resolution stated that the session highly evaluated the major achievements of 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 goals, major tasks, and work arrangements for 2026 proposed in the report, and decided to approve the report.

The session voted to adopt the resolution on the "15th Five-Year Plan" Outline for National Economic and Social Development. The resolution stated that the session agreed with the review report of the NPC Financial and Economic Committee and decided to approve the outline. The session required that during the "15th Five-Year Plan" period, efforts should be made to fully implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, coordinate the overall layout of "Five-in-One," advance the "Four Comprehensives" strategic layout, balance domestic and international situations, fully and accurately implement the new development philosophy, accelerate the construction of a new development pattern, adhere to the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, focus on high-quality development, take reform and innovation as the fundamental driving force, aim to meet the people's growing needs for a better life, and ensure strict governance of the Party as the fundamental guarantee. These efforts aim to achieve qualitative and quantitative growth in the economy, promote comprehensive human development, and take solid steps toward common prosperity for all people, ensuring decisive progress in achieving basic socialist modernization.

After voting, the session adopted the Environmental Code, the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, and the National Development Planning Law. The Environmental Code will take effect on August 15, 2026, the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress on July 1, 2026, and the National Development Planning Law upon its promulgation.

The session voted to adopt the resolution on the implementation of the 2025 National Economic and Social Development Plan and the 2026 National Economic and Social Development Plan, deciding to approve the report on the implementation of the 2025 plan and the draft 2026 plan, as well as the 2026 National Economic and Social Development Plan. The session also voted to adopt the resolution 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 budgets and the draft 2026 budgets, as well as the 2026 central budget.

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

After voting, the session adopted the resolutions on the Work Report of the Supreme People's Court and the Work Report of the Supreme People's Procuratorate, deciding to approve both reports.

The session voted to adopt the decision on approving the NPC Standing Committee's report on the legal review work and related laws and decisions.

Subsequently, Zhao Leji delivered a speech. He stated that the Fourth Session of the 14th National People's Congress had successfully completed all its agenda items. The session adhered to democratic principles, gathered collective wisdom, strictly followed the law, and formed broad consensus. It was a conference of unity, practical action, and progress.

Zhao Leji pointed out that the deputies, entrusted by the Party and the people, earnestly fulfilled their legal duties, reviewed and approved the Government Work Report and other reports, examined and approved the "15th Five-Year Plan" Outline and annual plans and budgets, and reviewed and adopted the Environmental Code, the Law on Promoting Ethnic Unity and Progress, and the National Development Planning Law. The outcomes of the session reflected the high unity of the Party's proposals and the people's will, demonstrating the firm confidence and great strength of advancing the great cause of building a strong nation and national rejuvenation under the strong leadership of the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core.

Zhao Leji stated that formulating and implementing five-year plans is an important experience in the governance of the Communist Party of China and a significant political advantage of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics. The "15th Five-Year Plan" period is a critical time for laying the foundation and making comprehensive efforts to achieve basic socialist modernization, and implementing the "15th Five-Year Plan" Outline is of great significance.

Zhao Leji emphasized the need to deeply study and implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and its plenary sessions, earnestly implement the arrangements of the Fourth Plenary Session, deeply understand the strategic positioning of the "15th Five-Year Plan" period by the Party Central Committee, accurately grasp the guiding ideology, important principles, goals, tasks, and policy measures for economic and social development during this period, and effectively carry out all tasks as deployed by this session. Efforts should be made to steadfastly handle our own affairs, strive for a good start to the "15th Five-Year Plan," and step by step turn the grand vision into a beautiful reality.

Zhao Leji stated that we must adhere to the functions and responsibilities of the NPC, uphold the organic unity of the Party's leadership, the people's mastery of the country, and the rule of law, practice whole-process people's democracy, and uphold, improve, and operate the people's congress system. We must effectively leverage the advantages of the fundamental political system of the state, earnestly fulfill the responsibilities conferred by the Constitution and laws, and provide legal guarantees for achieving the goals and tasks of the "15th Five-Year Plan." NPC deputies must faithfully represent the interests and will of the people, perform their duties in accordance with the law, maintain close ties with the masses, and make contributions in their respective positions.

Zhao Leji emphasized 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 arm our minds, guide our practice, and promote our work. We must further strengthen the "Four Consciousnesses," firmly establish the "Four Confidences," and achieve the "Two Upholds." With unity, determination, and practical efforts, we must strive to deliver results for the people and create achievements through hard work, continuously opening up new prospects for Chinese-style modernization.

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 majestic national anthem.

Also seated 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 Jingguo, Wang Xiaohong, Zhang Shengmin, Wu Zhenglong, Shen Yiqin, Zhang Jun, Ying Yong, Hu Chunhua, Shen Yueyue, Wang Yong, Zhou Qiang, Ho Hau Wah, Leung Chun-ying, Batel, 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.

Relevant officials from central and state organs, relevant units of the People's Liberation Army and the Armed Police Force, and relevant leaders of people's organizations attended or observed the session.

Foreign diplomats stationed in China observed the session.