China’s ersatz parliament meets for its annual weeklong plenary session this week, starting with an opening ceremony on Thursday in Beijing’s Great Hall of the People where Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will present his annual government “work report”.
The document will be filled with the past year’s achievements and the lofty goals of the coming one, covering everything from defence to religious affairs to victories in the pursuit of “socialist rule of law with Chinese characteristics”.
Mr Li will dutifully read the entire document to thousands of handpicked delegates over the course of nearly three hours with barely a pause or a sip of water — a feat for which Chinese leaders are said to be trained at a top-secret finishing school.