Politics
The National People’s Congress, China’s rubber-stamp parliament, opened its annual session. The outgoing prime minister, Li Keqiang, kicked things off by announcing an economic growth target of “around 5%” in 2023, lower than many external forecasts. Xi Jinping blamed Western countries led by America for trying to suppress China. The congress is expected to approve a set of reforms that will give Mr Xi more direct control over government bodies. It will also confirm him for a norm-busting third term as president.
China’s foreign minister, Qin Gang, warned America that its hostile attitude was in danger of souring relations between the two countries, comparing the situation to a train heading towards derailment. China is also “seriously concerned” that the president of Taiwan, Tsai Ing-wen, is going to meet the speaker of America’s House of Representatives, Kevin McCarthy, in the United States.
Japan’s space agency commanded its new H3 rocket to self-destruct after its second engine failed to ignite after lift-off. It is a big setback for Japan’s rocket programme, which hopes to compete in the growing business of launching commercial and government satellites. The rocket was carrying a satellite that could, among other things, monitor North Korean missile tests.
2023-03-09 09:25:21
Source from www.economist.com
