Challenging mission ahead

Both the national people's congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference will feature shorter sessions this year. But that will in no way lighten their load.

On the contrary, NPC delegates and CPPCC members will find there are more, thornier topics to be discussed this year. Not just because these are the first whole sessions of the national legislature and political advisory body under the new leadership, one that is eager to see changes in almost every aspect. But because this will be a year of severe tests for China and the Chinese people.

The economy has held center stage in the discourse about China's well-being for decades. But even more so this year, because last year's slower growth, while defying pessimistic prior projections, adds a sense of uncertainty and raises the question of whether and how the country's new leadership will prevent the economy from sliding further and make the adjustments it aspires to.