The 14th National People's Congress (NPC) opens its fourth session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2026. Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders, including Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng, were seated at the rostrum. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The 14th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, opened its fourth session on Thursday morning at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi Jinping and other Party and state leaders, including Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Han Zheng, were seated at the rostrum.

Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the session's presidium, presided over the meeting.

Premier Li Qiang delivered a government work report.

Noting that 2025 had been a "truly remarkable" year, Li said China, faced with profound and complex developments both at home and abroad, had accomplished the main goals and tasks for economic and social development and brought the 14th Five-Year Plan to a successful conclusion.

All 20 major targets, 17 strategic tasks and 102 major projects set out in the outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan had been accomplished, he said.

In accordance with the Recommendations of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China for Formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (2026-2030), the State Council has prepared the draft outline of the plan, which has been submitted to this session for examination, said Li.

The draft outline has specified 20 main indicators, set out the major strategic tasks for the 15th Five-Year Plan period, and proposed a total of 109 major projects in six areas, Li noted.

On this year's main objectives, Li pointed out in the report that China targets an economic growth of 4.5-5 percent and will strive for better in practice.

"We must fully implement the Party Central Committee's overall plans for this year and take solid steps to do all our work well," he said.

According to the agenda, a series of documents were submitted to the NPC session for examination, which include the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan, the report on the implementation of the 2025 plan for national economic and social development and on the 2026 draft plan, and the draft plan for national economic and social development in 2026, as well as the report on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2025 and on the draft central and local budgets for 2026, and the draft central and local budgets for 2026.

Li Hongzhong, vice chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, delivered explanatory remarks on a draft environmental code, a draft law on promoting ethnic unity and progress, and a draft law on national development planning, respectively.

Compiling the environmental code will provide robust legal safeguards for ecological and environmental protection in China's journey toward modernization, according to the explanatory remarks.

The formulation of the law on promoting ethnic unity and progress is aimed at advancing the high-quality development of the cause of ethnic unity and progress, with a focus on fostering a strong sense of community for the Chinese nation, said the remarks.

The law on national development planning, according to the remarks, is expected to raise the level of law-based governance in national development planning and enhance the strategic guidance role of national plans.