China’s Two Sessions: Takeaways for the Global South

Chinese Premier Li Qiang speaks during the opening session of the National People's Congress on Wednesday. Photo by Pedro Pardo / AFP

China’s annual Two Sessions political gathering outlined new measures to signal that the CPC is targeting economic hurdles at home and new challenges from the Trump administration. China stuck to a relatively optimistic 5% GDP growth target and announced a 7.2% increase in its defense budget. This comes as China-U.S. rhetoric became more confrontational after U.S. President Donald Trump’s address to Congress.

While the Two Sessions overwhelmingly focuses on domestic issues, the decisions approved there have implications for the Global South, particularly as it also grapples with the changes the Trump administration is imposing on global trade.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest news and analysis from Africa, Asia, and across the Global South.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China’s relations across the Global South.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by CGSP Staff

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
3 From J-10C to Kaan? Indonesia’s Fighter Jet Deal With Turkey Shocks Chinese Military Fans
4
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors
5
Chinese Cargo Planes Secretly Ferrying Supplies to Iran, Claim Online Sleuths
6
Thailand in Last-Minute U.S. Talks as 36% Tariff Looms

You Might Like

What Key Lessons Can African Countries Learn from the China-NBA Dispute

DISCLAIMER: The article raises a number of sensitive issues that are intended to inform and educate stakeholders in the China-Africa relationship about key political issues in China that influence current events. CAP Managing ...

While the U.S. Gets Bogged Down in the Persian Gulf, China Pushes on With its African Diplomacy

Getting Africa on the agenda in Washington, D.C. has never been easy, but now it’ll be near impossible as America’s senior foreign policy leaders become consumed managing the burgeoning crisis in Iran, Iraq ...

Reflections on a Week in Washington

I’m on my way back to Asia after having spent a fascinating week in Washington, D.C. meeting with key stakeholders in government, think tanks and NGOs who are all engaged in U.S. foreign ...

Daily Maverick: China’s Brash Outspoken Ambassador to South Africa “Recalled”

Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Lin Songtian is reportedly being recalled to Beijing according to a report in the Daily Maverick newspaper. The article quotes unnamed sources within South Africa’s Department of International Relations ...

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP