Reform Themed Sessions

On March 5， 2014， journalists and reporters from China and abroad gathered for the opening ceremony of the 2nd Plenary Session of the 12th National Peoples Congress. From March 3 to 13， the two sessions – the National Peoples Congress （NPC） and the Chinese Peoples Political Consul- tative Conference （CPPCC） – took place in Beijing with reform as the theme.

The word “reform” appeared 77 times in the government report delivered by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang， comprehensively covering monopoly break-up， land， finance， taxation， market access， streamlin- ing administration and implementing decentralization， state-owned property， innovation， and the ecology， which are the most pressing issues for Chinas future development. The roadmap for reform has been drawn clearly， with highlights on adjusting patterns of economic growth， restraining governmental powers， intensifying market effects， and improving living standards， while balancing economic growth and social development. The two sessions are revealing that the Chinese government is fully aware of issues arising during reform and is determined to solve them practically through feasible measures.

First-Lady Diplomacy

On March 21， 2014， Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan accompanied U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama to Beijings Forbidden City（Palace Museum）. After an invitation from Peng， wife of President Xi Jinping， Michelle Obama began a 7-day trip to China in Beijing on March 20. After Beijing， the tour headed to Xian， provincial seat of Shaanxi， and Chengdu， capital of Sichuan Province. Joining Mrs. Obama were her two daughters and mother. Obamas visit was the first formal trip by a U.S. first lady to China unaccompanied by her husband since China and the United States established diplomatic relations 35 years ago， and Pengs first hosting of a high-level figure from abroad. Michelle Obamas visit focused on educational cooperation and cultural exchange among young people in both countries.

Heads Up： Dragons Head

On March 2， a salon in a shopping mall in Hangzhou， Zhejiang Province， provided free haircuts for babies to commemorate traditional Dragon Head Raising Festival， observed on the 2nd day of the 2nd lunar month. Legend has it that on this day， the dragon who has dominion over the weather， raises its head to provide sufficient rainfall for crops. The festival began during the Yuan Dynasty （1271-1368） and its popularity became widespread during the Ming and Qing dynasties （1368-1911）. Traditionally， people cooked wheat-based food and stir-fried soybeans to mark the occasion. Today， however， parents take their boys to the barber， which represents a blessing for them to grow healthily and happily.