Thank you forjoining me. We have been getting lines that we expect gdp to come in at around 5 . What is your reaction to that . , 5 . What is your reaction to that . ,. , that . That is the same number china was that . That is the same number china was targeting that . That is the same number china was targeting last that . That is the same number china was targeting last year i china was targeting last year so i think what beijing is trying to signal than is that despite the short term turbulence, Stock Market Fluctuations earlier this year, i think beijing is trying to tell people that, yes, economics is still steady and the leadership habit together, things are under control and thatis things are under control and that is why they are shooting for the same number, in terms of gdp target in terms of last year, and that also means however in terms of the size of expected economic stimulus that many people were expecting china to dish out, the exact size of it may be more modest than some people may be hoping for At Thisjuncture. D0 than some people may be hoping for at this juncture. For at this uncture. Do you think they for At Thisjuncture. Do you think they will for At Thisjuncture. Do you think they will also for At Thisjuncture. Do you think they will also be for At Thisjuncture. Do you i think they will also be laying out sort of methods or policies that they will be looking to address, some of the economic concerns people in china might have, especially with bread and butter issues like Youth Unemployment and housing . For sure, unemployment and housing . For sure. Yes. Unemployment and housing . Pr . Sure, yes, and i unemployment and housing . Iff . Sure, yes, and i mean, they also have been saying for a while as well that given that the Party Leadership at this point is supreme, and the party is having a major conference, a Work Conference a few months ago i think at the end of december, where they basically have been talking about this as well, essentially the same as what we are hearing today at the National Peoples congress, thatis the National Peoples congress, that is that there will be a lot more focus on indigenous innovation, and what they call high quality growth, ie more technology, but in terms of brick and mortar, old School Infrastructure spending, that kind of older school stimulus, those may not be the highest priority at this juncture. But priority at this uncture. But the economy priority At Thisjuncture. But the economy will priority at this juncture. But the economy will certainly be the economy will certainly be the focus was that i want to get your thoughts on Premier League saying. Not expected not to speak at a Press Conference, quite unusual, the first time ever, why do you think that is . Premier li qiang. I ever, why do you think that is . Premier li qiang. Premier li qiang. Ithink it is controlled premier li qiang. Ithink it is controlled from premier li qiang. Ithink it is controlled from the premier li qiang. Ithink it is controlled from the party l it is controlled from the Party Leadership, from president xi jinping, of course, and i know that some people are analysing this, and have been saying that the va used to give press, it is at the end of mpc, now he isnt, and maybe it is potentially because economic numbers havent been looking so great lately and therefore they are trying to dodge some hardball questions, but really, hard ball questions, but really, if hardball questions, but really, if you look at what they have been saying, they are cancelling premiers Press Conference notjust this year but for future years to come as well, so it sounds like more of a change for a longer term, not just one issue, which they tell us temporary setbacks in Economic Growth this year or last year isnt really a reason why they are changing the format, and the party is getting greater and greater control in terms of narrative. We get clues as to chinas relationship with the us. Does Foreign Policy feature much in these meetings . Foreign policy feature much in these meetings . Indeed and i think that these meetings . Indeed and i think that is these meetings . Indeed and i think that is why these meetings . Indeed and i think that is why we these meetings . Indeed and i think that is why we are these meetings . Indeed and i think that is why we are all. Think that is why we are all watching the personnel appointments that may be coming out during the two sessions this time around. First and foremost a course is going to be whether china is going to come out with a new Foreign Minister. We know that the former Foreign Minister was removed a few months ago, and the man he is to be on thejob it is now on a more Senior Party Level job it is now on a more Senior Party Leveljob running for affairs has been doubling up as Foreign Minister at the same time as well. So that is a demanding job, and he time as well. So that is a demandingjob, and he at time as well. So that is a demanding job, and he at this moment needs to spend more energy on policy design, wang yi, policy architecture, as opposed to the Foreign Minister which is more of a Policy Implementation in the chinese political universe. So people are expecting potentially there will be a new Foreign Minister appointed and if that new person happens to be the person they expect to be, then he will be considered as a potential signalfor a softer turn in signal for a softer turn in chinas signalfor a softer turn in chinas foreign approach. Basically the unofficial party, it is more about making friends than hardcore nationalist posturing. But we have been saying from some other officials. So all trying to wait for which Foreign Minister may come up. We wait for which Foreign Minister may come lip wait for which Foreign Minister may come up. We are seeing Lee Chant May come up. We are seeing Lee Chang Speaking may come up. We are seeing Lee Chang Speaking now, may come up. We are seeing Lee Chang Speaking now, just may come up. We are seeing Lee Chang Speaking now, just try may come up. We are seeing Lee Chang Speaking now, just try to l chang speaking now, just try to get foreign translation for our viewers. Last years session presidency asked for national reconciliation, casting the issue of taiwans relationship with china as a focus on the new political term. Do you expect the narrative to continue this year . I expect the narrative to continue this year . I think so, es. I continue this year . I think so, yes i mean. Continue this year . I think so, yes. I mean, taiwan continue this year . I think so, yes. I mean, taiwan has continue this year . I think so, yes. I mean, taiwan has been| continue this year . I think so, l yes. I mean, taiwan has been a major issue for beijing for the longest time, and given that recently taiwan have just elected a new president a few weeks ago in mid january, the president elect, who beijing doesnt like all that much. So i think beijing has reason at this juncture i think beijing has reason At Thisjuncture to i think beijing has reason at this juncture to project a harder posture towards taiwan. The president elect, he will be sworn in by mid may. At this juncture it makes sense for beijing from their strategic interest perspective to come up with a harder declarative statement at npc or bylaws that signal a tougher stance on taiwan. This is a when beijing announced they will take no toughness but also maintain after the new president of taiwans ways in as well. I think were all going to see that. As well. I think were all going to see that. Stay with us, we going to see that. Stay with us. We are going to see that. Stay with us, we are just going to see that. Stay with us, we are just going going to see that. Stay with us, we are just going to going to see that. Stay with us, we are just going to get going to see that. Stay with i us, we are just going to get in us, we arejust going to get in and listen to lee chang to see and listen to lee chang to see a flavour of how he is speaking. Liang. Li li qiang. speaks mandarin . Li qiang talking about the achievements in 2023, and we are expecting him to reiterate the gdp target for 2024 will be 5 . Talk to us a bit more about what chinas growth means domestically, and then we will move on to what its impact could be internationally. Domestically we know that consumption has been a challenge, generating consumption in china, the domestic market, has been quite a struggle. This gdp target of 5 , what does it mean for that . I think it is meant to infuse confidence into the market, that in spite of fluctuations, longer term, that in spite of fluctuations, longerterm, china that in spite of fluctuations, longer term, china is still steady and on the rise. In terms of boosting Consumer Confidence i think it remains to be seen how effective that messaging will be and it also remains to be seen also chinas Policy Coordination between central and local level will prove sufficiently robust so that this attempt to strengthen the economy by increasing consumer spending, whether that can actually trickle down to the provinces and to the citys level, as local level policy stimulus. It remains to be seen At Thisjuncture stimulus. It remains to be seen at this juncture but at least from a central level we are seeing signs of at least projected confidence. Projecting confidence important for the domestic audience but also for the International Audience as well, given Foreign Direct Investment did drop off last year. I will get your thoughts on that in just a bit, but back to li qiang, we understand we have some english translation now. Translation domestically many difficulties facing translation domestically many difficulties facing our difficulties facing our economic recovery have yet to be resolved. The long standing issues be resolved. The long standing issues are be resolved. The long standing issues are more pronounced. Many issues are more pronounced. Many new issues are more pronounced. Many new developments and problems emerged. The policies in work problems emerged. The policies in work also face more demands. However in work also face more demands. However thanks to the concerted efforts however thanks to the concerted efforts of however thanks to the concerted efforts of the entire nation, we accomplished the Years Development goals and embraced positive Development Goals and embraced positive changes on many fronts positive changes on many fronts it positive changes on many fronts. It shows again that under fronts. It shows again that under the strong leadership, the Chinese People have the courage the Chinese People have the courage and vision to meet any challenge courage and vision to meet any challenge and overcome any obstacle. There is no doubt that obstacle. There is no doubt that in obstacle. There is no doubt that in development, china will continue that in development, china will continue to surge ahead and advance continue to surge ahead and advance towards a great future. Applause last year, the Guiding Principles from the partys Centrai Principles from the partys central community, and we have done central community, and we have done the central community, and we have done the following. First, we strengthen the Macro Regulation and promoted steady economic recovery and promoted steady economic recovery and growth. In light of brave recovery and growth. In light of brave challenges and the post covid economic recovery, we took post covid economic recovery, we took priority to consolidating the foundations of the consolidating the foundations of the economy, we ensured the proper of the economy, we ensured the proper policies off economy and also to proper policies off economy and also to introduce timely policies. For School Policy also policies. For School Policy also continued to intensify, and also continued to intensify, and macro policy will implement in a targeted, impactful way. We also in a targeted, impactful way. We also introduced the policies to promote the aid industry, such to promote the aid industry, such as to promote the aid industry, such as automobiles and other bil such as automobiles and other big items such as automobiles and other big items. Also introduced the policy big items. Also introduced the policy is big items. Also introduced the policy is to improve local Government Debts and also to ensure Government Debts and also to ensure no systematic risks arose ensure no systematic risks arose. Second, we promoted industrial arose. Second, we promoted industrial upgrading is through innovation and gained real momentum for coordinated, urban and rural momentum for coordinated, urban and rural departments. We implement major science and Technology Programmes to build chihas Technology Programmes to build chinas strength in science and technology. We also promoted a new industrialisation. We also supported the advanced manufacturing and also to further manufacturing and also to further promote the organisation and the share of a permanent urban residents in the total permanent urban residents in the total population rose to 66~2 ~ the total population rose to 66. 2 . We have seen further progress 66. 2 . We have seen further progress made in realisation. We have progress made in realisation. We have seen new initiatives launched we have seen new initiatives launched in this regard. Third, we continue to improve the business we continue to improve the business environment. A number of policies business environment. A number of policies and regulations that of policies and regulations that impeded fair competition were that impeded fair competition were abolished. We adopted separate policies on supporting the development of Foreign Policy enterprises. And we launched the special initiatives to settle overdue payments. We further improved the policies to promote foreign investment, and also achieved rapid investment, and also achieved rapid growth in trade investment with our partners. Fourth, investment with our partners. Fourth, we step up efforts to improve fourth, we step up efforts to improve the environment and accelerated transition. We have ust been accelerated transition. We have just been listening accelerated transition. We have just been listening to accelerated transition. We have just been listening to li accelerated transition. We have just been listening to li qiang l just been listening to li qiang give his address, talking about Guiding Principles of china in the last economic year and how they have had to overcome various challenges. We can go now to our correspondent, stephen, in beijing. Just at the scene for us. We understand gdp target has been set at 5 . We are still awaiting more details on numbers and goals and policies that will sort of achieve this. But coming into this meeting, give us a sense of what china has been experiencing. Of what china has been experiencing. Of what china has been exteriencin. , experiencing. Yes, well, these are tough experiencing. Yes, well, these are tough economic experiencing. Yes, well, these are tough Economic Times experiencing. Yes, well, these are tough Economic Times in i are tough Economic Times in china, and even though this is a kind of set piece meeting, and all the expressions which are used are to be expected, people are hoping that there will be some indication that the government has a way forward for the economy. 5 gdp growth, i think many will be wondering how that is going to be achieved, especially given that the real estate sector is in such a bad way, that University Graduates are finding it hard to getjobs, Youth Unemployment is high, local Government Debt is through the roof. All sorts of headaches. And yet the potential still remains for the economy here, given that you have 1. 4 billion people, they are all consumers, buying things, and so that is why a lot of foreign companies, despite how things are tough, are sort of sticking it out in the hope that the economy will turn around. Now, you mentioned the detail. That is what people are looking for from the government, however going to achieve this 5 this year that they think they are going to . And what else can we expect . We heard as li qiang was speaking, getting rounds of applause from the delegates in the room, but what can we expect as the npc plays out this week . The what can we expect as the npc plays out this week . Plays out this week . The npc, its a bit of plays out this week . The npc, its a bit of a plays out this week . The npc, its a bit of a show. Plays out this week . The npc, its a bit of a show. These plays out this week . The npc, its a bit of a show. These are l its a bit of a show. These are predetermined outcomes. There wont be any great dissent or debate, it is a rubber stamped session. But, that said, because it is also prepared, it is a good way of finding out what the governments thinking is, you know, to look at the speeches, to listen in on these Press Conferences, even though they are all highly controlled, they are all highly controlled, they are all highly controlled, they are only taking questions that have been screened, but because of that, you know that the messages that are coming out are what the government thinks is important. And so thatis thinks is important. And so that is why all these china analysts are pouring over the government work report for example and listening in on these Press Conferences to try and get an indication of what the government hopes to do. I mean, they do have some good stories to tell on the economy, Renewable Energy for example, electric cars, so there are things that the government can crow about, and i suppose over the next week they will be making more of that, and the switch to tax, in the hope that thatis switch to tax, in the hope that that is going to make up for the dire situation of the property market. Latte the dire situation of the property market. The dire situation of the hro he market. , property market. We will leave it there for property market. We will leave it there for now. Property market. We will leave it there for now. Thanks property market. We will leave it there for now. Thanks very i it there for now. Thanks very much for your insight. Stephen mcdonell in the great hall of the people. Around the world and across the uk, this is bbc news. Bbc news, bringing you different stories from across the uk. As a child, she learned to live with Sickle Cell Disease. I to live with Sickle Cell Disease. To live with Sickle Cell Disease. ,. ,. ,. , disease. I had a lot of pain in my ankles disease. I had a lot of pain in my ankles and disease. I had a lot of pain in my ankles and in disease. I had a lot of pain in my ankles and in all disease. I had a lot of pain in my ankles and in all my disease. I had a lot of pain in i my ankles and in all my joints, my ankles and in all myjoints, and when i was young i didnt really understand it fully. Its just kind of meant i missed out on some things like playtime. If it was raining at school i would be inside. This is our sickle school i would be inside. This is our sickle cell school i would be inside. This is our sickle cell unit. School i would be inside. This is our sickle cell unit. Ok. Is our sickle cell unit. Ok. There is is our sickle cell unit. Ok. There is a is our sickle cell unit. Ok. There is a drs is our sickle cell unit. Ok. There is a drs office is our sickle cell unit. Ok. There is a drs Office Rightj there is a drs office right there there is a drs office right there. ,. , there is a drs office right there. , , there. Today, she is visiting manchester there. Today, she is visiting Manchester Royal there. Today, she is visiting | Manchester Royal infirmarys new Sickle Cell Disease unit, which will care for those who have the disease. Which will care for those who have the disease. They should receive analgesia have the disease. They should receive analgesia within have the disease. They should receive analgesia within 30. Receive analgesia within 30 minutes. So knowing this will happen minutes. So knowing this will happen will definitely make a huge happen will definitely make a huge impact to them. Patients in crisis can huge impact to them. Patients in crisis can call huge impact to them. Patients in crisis can call the huge impact to them. Patients in crisis can call the unit, in crisis can call the unit, where they are triage, and treatment starts immediately. Are they both side rooms . Yes. Are they both side rooms . Yes, ust for are they both side rooms . Yes, just for sickle are they both side rooms . Yes, just for sickle cell. Are they both side rooms . Yes, just for sickle cell. For are they both side rooms . Yes, just for sickle cell. For more just for sickle cell. For more stories. Just for sickle cell. For more stories, head just for sickle cell. For more stories, head to just for sickle cell. For more stories, head to the just for sickle cell. For more stories, head to the bbc just for sickle cell. For more i stories, head to the bbc news website will stop you are live with bbc news. The white house says Vice PresidentKamala Harris has expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation in gaza during talks with the israeli war cabinet member, benny gantz. Ms Harris Office said she urged israel to let more aid into gaza, while calling on hamas to accept terms for a ceasefire. Benny gantz� s visit has been criticised by some in netanyahus government who say any commitments he might make would not be binding. The bbc is currently unable to report from inside gaza. Our special correspondent fergal keane sent this update from jerusualem, and i should warn you that his report contains some distressing images. A grief so calamitous it is deaf to the rumours of peace. This is the 150th day of war, and each day, the images of the grieving and of the dead are beamed to the world. This woman was sheltering with 45 family members, when a rocket struck. Seven were killed, including two children. A ceasefire might save the living. It wont bring back the dead. Nawaf zrey has lived and worked among the dead since the war began. He is a shrouder. He cleans and wraps the dead for Burial Hundreds of them. Yes, but their families dont yet know theyre dead. 30,000 deaths have created many widows and orphans. Near rafah, they stay together, in a camp of the widows, within a larger camp. New structures are being built. The un estimates 3,000 women have been widowed by war. Zahra al ras, aged 26, has four children. One of them is disabled. Another suffered severe burns. Her husband, mahmoud, was killed when he went to find food for the family a month ago. Zahra found him dying in hospital. Often, these days, there is nothing to eat. Like the bereaved of all wars, this Family Clings to fragments of a world broken beyond repair. The children are zahras life now, the living world she holds in her arms. Fergal keane, bbc news, jerusalem. Just want to take you back to beijing now. Chinas most high profile political gathering is only under way. Laying out the vision for the year ahead and it will be watched closely by many. We expect them to say they will target gdp growth of 5 in 2024. Translation b, target gdp growth of 596 in 2024. Translation a drop of around 25 2024. Translation a drop of around 2. 5 in 2024. Translation a drop of around 2. 5 in Energy Around 2. 5 in Energy Consumption per unit of gdp, continued improvement in the environment. In setting these targets, we consider it involving a dynamic in home and abroad and other relevant factors, and it is not easy for us to realise these targets. We need Policy Support and joint effort from all fronts. We should adhere to the principles of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, from stability to progress and establishing new before abolishing the old. We should also be stipulated in. Li qiang talking about stabilising employment as part of his speech. More from the newsroom in singapore with katie who has been listening to the whole speech. Get us up to speed with some of the things we may have missed. We are still waiting to hear 5 gdp target . Latte missed. We are still waiting to hear 5x gdp target . Hear s� kt gdp target . We have ust had hear s� kt gdp target . We have just had it hear s� kt gdp target . We have just had it in hear s� kt gdp target . We have just had it in the hear s� kt gdp target . We have just had it in the last hear s� kt gdp target . We have just had it in the last minute, | just had it in the last minute, he has just had it in the last minute, he has confirmed around 5 as the Growth Target for the year. It the Growth Target for the year. It comes the Growth Target for the year. It comes off the back of 5. 2 growth it comes off the back of 5. 2 growth last year. Many were questioning whether this may be achievable again for china. Of course, achievable again for china. Of course, last year fozz came off the track course, last year fozz came off the back of course, last year fozz came off the back of 2022, where china had zero the back of 2022, where china had zero covid, very low growth, had zero covid, very low growth, so whether or not i was going growth, so whether or not i was going to growth, so whether or not i was going to be confirmed remain to be seen going to be confirmed remain to be seen but as i say hasjust come be seen but as i say hasjust come through in the last minute or two come through in the last minute or two we come through in the last minute or two. We also saw as you have seen or two. We also saw as you have seen a or two. We also saw as you have seen a lot or two. We also saw as you have seen a lot of or two. We also saw as you have seen a lot of fanfare, the national seen a lot of fanfare, the national anthem, we also saw the new national anthem, we also saw the new premier lauding his achievements of its first year in the achievements of its first year in the position, pointing to things in the position, pointing to things like science, technology, innovation, particularly the airline, managed to get china does not first plane in the skies. Talking first plane in the skies. Talking about the geopolitical risks talking about the geopolitical risks and tension that china continues to face. Risks and tension that china continues to face. Thank you for that continues to face. Thank you for that. More continues to face. Thank you for that. More on continues to face. Thank you for that. More on that for that. More on that throughout the morning here on bbc news. Hello. There may be a hiccup along the way, but by and large, for the rest of this week, its looking better than it has done in recent weeks, with the tendency for most of us to be a good deal drier. Things will become windier again as we go through the week, and thats because were stuck in a bit of a tussle between High Pressure building across scandinavia high generally means dry weather and low pressure out in the atlantic. And, whilst they try to get closer, High Pressure will be the dominant feature. Tuesday, however, will be a bit of a transition day of sorts. Now, we start with a bit of frost across central, western england and wales, certainly frost free towards the east and thats because weve got a Weather Frontier which has become stranded as we go into the start of the day. Cloud, outbreaks of rain, quite misty around hills and coasts, too. Itll sit there all day long around some coastal districts. It may brighten up a touch inland, chance of a few heavier showers and a rumble of thunder towards the far southeast, and some showers in the morning in Northern Ireland will work through into western scotland. Elsewhere, most of you will be dry the odd shower cant be ruled out, but itll be quite pleasant in the sunny spells that develop. Now, as we go through into tuesday night, that Weather Front is still there in some form. So plenty of clouds, still the chance of some light rain or drizzle, and a bit of a breeze blowing across the north and east of scotland, as well see through tuesday itself. But into wednesday morning, its a case of the frost will be quite extensive again in Western Parts of england and wales, as well as western scotland, and maybe a bit in Northern Ireland. Its here we start wednesday with the sunshine. A few showers maybe towards the far west of cornwall later on. Always more cloud in northeastern england, eastern scotland, with the tendency for some drizzle on the hills. A brighter day and drier day for some other parts of eastern england, and temperatures creeping a little bit above where we should be for this stage in the year. Now, as we go into Wednesday Night and thursday, High Pressure builds a bit more and low pressure gets closer. We squeeze the isobars together more, so therell be more of a breeze by the time we hit thursday. That will bring a bit more cloud across northern and eastern areas the greater chance of 1 2 showers drifting in, as well. Many, though, to the south and west will stay dry and, because that wind coming in from the south easterly direction, its these areas most favoured for the best of the sunshine. Feeling a little bit cooler, especially in the cloudier spots, compared with wednesday. Into friday and the weekend a lot of dry weather to begin with, but theres a greater chance of a bit of rain developing here and there as we go into saturday and sunday. Take care. Chinas National Peoples congress has kicked off with premier li qiang outlining measures to get the worlds number two economy back on track, setting a Growth Target of around 5 for the year. Hello and welcome to Asia Business report. Im steve lai. Now, we begin in beijing, where chinas National Peoples congress has begun the annual session of Parliament Sets the political agenda for the year. Chinas official work report states the country is targeting growth of around 5 . Last year, the economy grew by 5. 2 . Premier li qiang is now speaking. Lets listen in. Translation invigorating china through scien and consolidating the foundation for High Quality Development. We will develop a high quality educational system, implement the partys educational policy and regard High Quality Development as the life blood of education and also strengthen fundamental education and improve its quality. We will launch an initiative to upgrade basic education and accelerate high quality, well balanced development of urban, and rural divisions in education. We