The Standing Committee of China's 14th National People's Congress (NPC) concluded its 21st session in Beijing on February 26, 2026, finalizing preparations for the upcoming fourth session of the 14th NPC. Lawmakers approved critical personnel changes including the removal of Wang Xiangxi as Minister of Emergency Management through a presidential order signed by President Xi Jinping.
NPC Standing Committee Chairman Zhao Leji announced the session's focus on reviewing the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) and deliberating landmark legislation including an environmental code and laws promoting ethnic unity. The approved agenda signals China's commitment to systematic governance reforms as it enters a new development phase.
Chairman Zhao emphasized the legislature's role in addressing national priorities, stating: "We must fulfill our statutory duties with strong responsibility to ensure the annual session delivers practical outcomes." The committee adopted procedural documents outlining participant lists and leadership structures for the full session, which will set economic and social development targets through 2030.
This legislative activity occurs against the backdrop of China's ongoing efforts to modernize its governance system while maintaining stable cross-strait relations and international partnerships. Analysts anticipate the environmental code and ethnic unity legislation to draw particular attention from both domestic stakeholders and international observers tracking China's policy directions.
