China’s annual legislative session will finally open on May 21, after a two-month delay brought about by the coronavirus outbreak that began in the central city of Wuhan.
The National People’s Congress and its sidekick, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, are traditionally held every year in the first two weeks of March, but the outbreak forced Beijing to delay the meetings for the first time since the Cultural Revolution.
Although it is heavily scripted and largely ceremonial, the “two sessions” is one of the few chances for more than 5,000 members of the Communist party rank and file to collectively voice their opinion to the leadership. It also involves large crowds of people — both delegates and journalists — gathering indoors in tight spaces.