中國兩會如期召開 盤點最新看點

The once-a-year meeting of China’s national legislature kicks off Wednesday with all eyes on China’s growth-target projections and military-spending plans.

中國人民政治協商會議第十二屆全國委員會第二次會議3月3日在北京人民大會堂召開。一年一度的國家立法機關會議3月5日拉開序幕。所有人都密切關注着對於中國經濟增長的預測和軍費支出計劃。

The gathering of the National People’s Congress at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People usually doesn’t generate much drama by itself. As the congress put it in a guide for reporters, “no new laws or major law amendments are expected to be put before the legislators this year, and there will be no outstanding personnel changes for voting.”

在北京人民大會堂進行的人民代表大會本身不會有任何的戲劇性。正如記者指南所說：“今年沒有新的法律或者法律修正案需要代表修訂，也沒有需要投票決定的重大人事變動。”

Still, the congress — which goes by the English shorthand NPC — provides China’s top leaders with a platform to sketch out their economic and policy goals for the year. Some of them appear at rare – if carefully managed – press conferences. Enterprising reporters might even catch key officials as they come and go from meetings or duck out for bathroom breaks.

然而，全國人民代表大會--用英語速記法可以簡寫爲NPC--爲中國的高層領導人提供了一個可以概述本年度經濟和政策的平臺。如果仔細安排，在一些罕見的情況下，一些高層領導也會出現在新聞發佈會上。在會議過程中，一些重要官員進進出出或者去上廁所，這時，一些有魄力的記者甚至能碰到他們。

Some major points of interest will be:

一些重要的看點將會是：

China’s economic growth target for 2014: Last year, China held fast to a growth target of “about 7.5%,” then just eked past it with 7.7% growth for 2013. Most economists believe Beijing will stick to the 7.5% rate but that it will become harder meet that target as the country’s economy matures.

2014年中國的經濟增長目標：去年，中國堅持“7.5%左右”的經濟發展目標。2013年經濟增長勉強維持在7.7%的水平。大多數的經濟學家相信，今年北京仍然會堅持7.5%的增長率，然而，隨着中國經濟走向成熟，這個目標將會更加難以實現。

China’s military spending: Last year China increased its defense budget by 10.7% amid rising regional tensions with Japan and with Southeast Asian national over their overlapping South China Sea claims. This year tensions have heightened even further after Japan’s prime minister visited a controversial shrine. Another ramp up would be further signs of China’s desire to flex its muscles regionally.

中國的軍費開支：去年，中國與日本地區緊張局勢不斷上升，與東南亞國家關於南海重疊區域領土爭端愈演愈烈，國防預算增加了10.7%。今年，在日本首相參拜靖國神社之後，地區局勢更加緊張。中國產能的提升也是其想要在亞洲大展拳腳的重要標誌。

Financial reform: Any hints that China will ease capital controls, liberalize interest rates or make its currency more freely convertible. Experts don’t expect broad moves from the NPC.

金融改革：一些跡象暗示，中國將要放鬆資本管制，放開利率或者提高貨幣的自由兌換。專家指出，不要指望人代會會做出大刀闊斧的改革。

Social services: China may ramp up spending to address growing public demands for health care, better education, bigger pensions and other services.

社會服務：中國可能會加大支出來滿足公衆對於衛生保健，優質教育，豐厚養老金以及其他社會服務的需求。

Corruption: Chinese leaders are in the midst of a broad-ranging campaign against graft and waste. Austerity for officials is likely to be a message reinforced repeatedly. In the past, Chinese have combed online news photos of delegates pointing out their expensive clothes and accessories. This year they’ve been instructed to eschew fancy banquets and tchotchkes.

腐敗：中國領導人正在開展大範圍的打擊貪污和浪費的活動。官員的樸素作風很可能是不斷強調的品質。過去，中國人經常會搜索新聞和圖片指出官員昂貴的服裝以及飾品。今年這些官員被要求避開昂貴的宴請和這些小玩意兒。

National security: Don’t expect it to be on the formal agenda, but leaders might let something slip following the deadly weekend knife attack in Kunming.

國家安全：不要期待這會在正式議程上討論，然而在上週昆明發生暴力襲擊之後，領導人可能會採取一些措施。