Journalists covering the Chinese National People's Congress, which holds a week-long meeting in Beijing from Tuesday, will not have a chance to ask Premier Li Qiang any questions, as the government unexpectedly cancelled a press conference.
Li will not hold the meeting with journalists at the end of the week-long session, National People's Congress spokesman Lou Qinjian said in Beijing on Monday. In previous years, the press conference was always a rare opportunity for the premier to answer questions from reporters.
Journalists are also out of luck for the coming years, as Lou said the press conference will not take place then either - unless there are special circumstances.
When asked about the cancellation of the event, which is traditionally scheduled for the end of the congress, the Foreign Ministry said there is no reason for media representatives to be concerned that China is not open enough.
"I think this concern is unnecessary," spokeswoman Mao Ning said in Beijing. She emphasized that every session of Congress is open to the media.
Lou said journalists will be given more opportunities to ask questions of ministers and other government officials.
At one week, this year's National People's Congress is also comparatively short. The rather ceremonial event - at which almost 3,000 delegates from the unelected parliament approve plans and goals of the government led by state and party leader Xi Jinping - begins on Tuesday and is scheduled to conclude next Monday, March 11.
This year's focus is on China's economic growth targets for the nation with an estimated 1.4 billion people. Due to the economic crisis in the world's second-largest economy, domestic and foreign companies in particular are likely to be hoping for important signals from the meeting.
Observers are also paying attention to the military budget in light of China's tensions with Taiwan and the nuclear power's territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Party congress spokesman Lou defended the army's spending on Monday, saying Chinese expenditure is relatively low compared to the United States.
In 2023, the People's Republic increased its defence budget by 7.2% to 1.5537 trillion yuan ($216 billion). The increase in spending was therefore significantly higher than China's economic growth, which amounted to 5.2% in 2023.
Lou offered little insight into the Chinese stance on the upcoming US elections. He said that is an internal matter for the United States.
No matter who is elected, China hopes for stable co-operation, he said.
In front of the assembled reporters in the Great Hall of the People, however, he criticized the sometimes "anti-Chinese" statements made by members of the US Congress and visits by US politicians to Taiwan.
The Communist Party counts Taiwan as part of the territory of the People's Republic, although it has never ruled the democratic island and regularly criticizes countries that have exchanges with Taipei.
Washington is an ally of Taiwan and has pledged support in the event of an attack.
