2024-03-04 13:45:13
This is ‘Global Village Today’, which brings you important news from various countries around the world.
Host) What news is there today?
Reporter) The Two Sessions, China’s largest political event, opened on the 4th. US Vice President Kamala Harris called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the introduction of more aid.
Host) This is the first news from the global village today. China’s most important annual political event began on the 4th, right?
Reporter) Yes. The Two Sessions, China’s largest annual political event, opened on the 4th. The two sessions refer to two events: the ‘National People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)’ and the ‘National People’s Congress (National People’s Congress)’. The CPPCC will be held from the 4th to the 10th, and the National People’s Congress will be held from the 5th to the 11th.
Host) What is the nature of the event of the CPPCC and the National People’s Congress?
Reporter) Yes. First, the CPPCC is a policy advisory organization without legislative authority. And the National People’s Congress is equivalent to the U.S. Congress and the Korean National Assembly. It performs duties such as revising the Constitution and supervising its implementation, enacting and amending criminal and civil laws, electing or dismissing leaders such as the President and Vice President, and deciding on important national matters. The National People’s Congress consists of nearly 3,000 representatives. About 2,000 people attend the CPPCC.
Host) What issues can be mentioned that should be paid attention to at this year’s two meetings?
Reporter) Yes. Current issues include economic issues, Taiwan policy and relations with the United States, and the appointment of a new Foreign Minister.
Host) Regarding economic issues, let’s pay attention to the Prime Minister’s work report held on the first day of the National People’s Congress, right?
Reporter) That’s right. Prime Minister Li Chang will give a business report at the National People’s Congress on the 5th. At this event, we plan to present this year’s economic growth rate target, economic policy direction, and budget by sector, including the defense budget. Among these, what is particularly drawing attention is how this year’s economic growth rate target will be presented. Last year, China presented a growth target of ‘around 5%’ at the National People’s Congress, and recently announced that it had achieved this target with 5.2% growth.
Host) What percentage growth do you think the Chinese government will aim for this year?
Reporter) Yes. Many experts predict that the figure will be around 5%, similar to last year. Recently, many organizations forecast China’s economic growth rate to be less than 5% this year. However, the Chinese government is expected to stick to its growth target of around 5%. Regarding this, National People’s Congress spokesperson Lou Qinjian expressed an optimistic view at a press conference on the 4th. Lou said the leadership has strong confidence that China’s economy will rebound. He emphasized that China currently has more favorable rather than challenging conditions for economic development.
Host) The Chinese economy is currently suffering from the collapse of the real estate market. Do you think any solutions to this problem will be proposed?
Reporter) Yes. Experts believe that Premier Li Qiang will introduce a moderate stimulus package to revive the sluggish economy. However, experts pointed out that bold reform policies that would dramatically change the economic structure will not be implemented. Meanwhile, Ryu J., spokesman for the CPPCC, said at a press conference on the 3rd that economic issues were the biggest concern for CPP representatives and pointed out, “Youth employment, especially employment for young people who have just graduated from school, is a big concern.”
Host) What items are expected to be discussed in external relations?
Reporter) Yes. Representative examples include relations with the United States and the Taiwan issue. First, regarding relations with the United States, attention will be paid to what kind of message will be sent since the U.S. presidential election is taking place this year. At a press conference on the 4th, National People’s Congress spokesperson Lou Qinjian said, “No matter who becomes president, I expect the United States to cooperate in the same direction with China and work toward a stable, healthy, and sustainable bilateral relationship.”
Host) In this year’s Taiwan presidential election, Democratic Progressive Party candidate Lai Ching-de was elected, contrary to China’s wishes. So, aren’t you paying attention to what will be said regarding the Taiwan issue at this year’s two sessions?
Reporter) That’s right. Since candidate Lai, who was criticized by China as a separatist, has been confirmed as the next president, attention is being paid to what message will be sent regarding China’s future Taiwan policy.
Host) There was an incident recently that raised tensions once more in the Taiwan Strait, right?
Reporter) Yes. Last February, fishermen were killed off Taiwan’s Kinmen waters when a Chinese fishing boat capsized while fleeing Taiwan Coast Guard inspection. However, following this incident, China’s military pressure targeting Taiwan is intensifying once more, with the Chinese Coast Guard beginning daily patrols around Kinmen Island.
Host) There is also a prediction that a new Minister of Foreign Affairs will be appointed at these two sessions?
Reporter) Yes. Foreign Minister Chin Kang, who was appointed in December 2022, was dismissed in July of last year. Since then, Wang Yi, a member of the Communist Party’s Central Political Bureau, has also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs. There are rumors that Liu Jianchao, head of the Communist Party’s External Liaison Department, who is fluent in English, will be appointed as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs during the two sessions.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is giving a speech commemorating the 59th anniversary of ‘Bloody Sunday’ in Selma, Alabama, on the 3rd.
Host) This is the next news from Global Village Today. U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris called for an immediate ceasefire and more aid in the Gaza Strip.
Reporter) That’s right. Vice President Harris attended an event commemorating the civil rights movement held in Selma, Alabama on the 3rd. At this event, they urged Hamas, a Palestinian armed faction designated as a terrorist group by the United States, to agree to an immediate six-week ceasefire, and Israel to take more measures to increase the delivery of aid materials to the people of Gaza.
Host) Reuters pointed out that the intensity of Vice President Harris’ remarks on this day (the 3rd) was quite different from before, right?
Reporter) That’s right. Reuters explained that Vice President Harris put pressure on Israel with some strong remarks and presented detailed plans to deliver more relief materials to Gaza residents who are starving due to the Israeli military’s five-month attack. “Negotiations are ongoing and, as I have said before, we need Hamas to agree to this,” Vice President Harris said, calling for a cease-fire that allows hostages to be reunited with their families and provides immediate relief to the people of Gaza.
Host) Vice President Harris mentioned negotiations, and there were reports that a Hamas negotiating delegation entered Egypt, right?
Reporter) Yes. It is said that the Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, on the 3rd for new negotiations. However, there were reports that Israel refused to participate in the negotiations. It is said that Israel asked Hamas for a list of hostages still alive, but Hamas refused.
Host) Vice President Harris will meet former Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz in Washington on the 4th?
Reporter) Yes. On the 4th, Vice President Harris will meet with former Defense Minister Gantz, a member of Israel’s war cabinet, to discuss ceasefire and relief issues. Former Minister Gantz will also meet US Secretary of State Tony Blinken on the 5th.
Host) Meanwhile, the United States has airlifted relief supplies to Gaza?
Reporter) That’s right. The U.S. military’s Central Command issued a statement announcing that it had mobilized C-130 transport planes on the 2nd to airdrop more than 38,000 meals of food along the Gaza coast.
Host) Isn’t this the first time relief supplies have been airlifted to the Gaza Strip?
Reporter) Yes. Previously, Britain, France, Egypt, and Jordan dropped relief supplies from the air. This is the first time the United States has done this.
Host) But there are also indications that airlifting relief supplies is not a good method?
Reporter) That’s right. Aid agencies say airdrops are not effective. The cost is high and there are many cases where it is dropped incorrectly. One Gaza resident told Reuters that airdrops would not be enough to get enough supplies, and that it would be better to bring in relief supplies by land.
Host) On the 29th of last month, there was an accident in the Gaza Strip where more than 100 residents died while trying to receive relief goods. Israeli and Gaza health authorities are still saying different things regarding the cause of the accident?
Reporter) That’s right. First, Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari announced on the 3rd the initial results of an investigation that found that most of the dead were killed by being trampled when people were suddenly rushed by trucks carrying relief supplies. He also explained that some residents approached him threateningly and the military opened fire on them. In other words, most of the people who died lost their lives by falling or being stepped on, and only a few people died from gunshot wounds.
Host) What claim did the Gaza health authorities make?
Reporter) Yes. Most of them claim to have died from gunshot wounds. Mu’atasem Salah, head of the Gaza Health Ministry’s emergency committee, told Reuters, “It is not appropriate to claim that martyrs were caused by overcrowding or being hit by cars,” adding, “The wounded and martyrs were shot by large-diameter bullets.” .
Host) I understand that the UN also inspected the site following the accident?
Reporter) Yes. Giorgios Petropoulos, head of the Gaza branch of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told the BBC that he saw five to six people with gunshot wounds at Al Shifa Hospital.
Host) It was today in the global village.
1709564688
#Chinas #largest #political #event #Sessions #opens…Harris #calls #ceasefire #expanded #aid #Gaza