MNI China Press Digest, April 29: NPC, Infrastructure, Hotels

     BEIJING (MNI) - The following lists highlights from Chinese press reports

on Wednesday:

     China's top legislative body, the National People's Congress, will hold its

annual gathering in Beijing on May 22, Xinhua News Agency reported. The meeting

is generally held in early March, but has been postponed this year due to the

coronavirus pandemic. Premier Li Keqiang will deliver the Government Work Report

at the meeting, which usually includes the announcement of the annual GDP growth

target and the policy priorities for the year. MNI noted that some policy

advisors suggest China may set no growth target this year due to the

uncertainties caused by the pandemic. 

     China should accelerate the construction of new infrastructure including

information networks which would help industry to upgrade while also promoting

employment, according to a statement on the government website. The statement

followed the State Council executive meeting late Tuesday, and said the new

infrastructure should adapt to the new demand for digital services such as

online offices, remote education, telemedicine, connected vehicles and smart

cities. Market participants should lead the investment, the statement said. 

     Hotels in China have experienced booming demand as the country goes into a

5-day public holiday starting from Friday, according to a report by Beijing

Business Today. Citing an anonymous source at Fliggy, a booking website owned by

Alibaba, the newspaper reported that the average hotel room price now is only 2%

lower y/y, and prices are almost back at the level seen during last year's

holiday season. 

--MNI Beijing Bureau; +86 (10) 8532-5998; email: wanxia.lin@marketnews.com

--MNI Sydney Bureau; +61 405322399; email: lachlan.colquhoun.ext@marketnews.com

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