The pressure on China's economy from the trade conflict with the United States will take centre stage at the annual parliamentary session.
The National People's Congress meeting in Beijing on Tuesday will begin on sombre tone after Chinese President Xi Jinping in January warned Communist Party leaders about "complicated and grim" international conditions for China, with "the global sources of turmoil and risks having increased".
Some 3000 delegates, forming the country's largely rubber-stamp parliament, will convene at Beijing's Great Hall of the People for the session, which will last until March 15.
The party leadership is expected to set an annual economic growth target and indicate how it will tackle mounting government debt and the structural changes to the economy demanded by the US.
Chinese and US teams have been negotiating an end to a months-long trade war, which saw Washington slap tariffs on $US250 billion ($A353 billion) worth of Chinese imports. The tariffs have bogged down China's economy, which grew 6.6 per cent in 2018, its slowest rate since 1990.
"The economy is slowing down and in a chaotic state," said Wu Qiang, an independent political commentator. "Therefore, this year's National People's Congress will focus on the stability of the economy."
Premier Li Keqiang is under pressure to present a progressive reform agenda and at the same time make it seem like it's independent of the US demands, Wu said.
Washington wants Beijing to eliminate its support for key tech sectors and state-owned enterprises, as well as lower tariffs and improve the protection of intellectual property rights.
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【两会2019】中国人大着手技术转让修法，以期安抚美国
