SINGAPORE (May 21): China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) will take place for about a week from tomorrow, May 22. The annual Congress is crucial for the Chinese government as it is a platform for announcing key macroeconomic targets like its GDP growth target and for highlighting national priorities such as financial stability, anti-corruption and environmentalism. 

For China watchers, the Congress is a rare opportunity for insight to the Communist Party of China (CPC)’s possible policy stance in months ahead, giving clues to whether the emphasis might be on monetary or fiscal policy, whether the bulk of spending will be on- or off-budget and whether financial policy will be prudent or appropriate.