China's most important annual political meetings, commonly known as the "two sessions," kick off in Beijing on March 3 and are widely expected to further consolidate the power base of President Xi Jinping by endorsing a more centralized, top-down system.
With a firmer grip on power, Xi will have a free hand to further reforms linked to his long-term vision of establishing a "moderately prosperous society," and tackle the issues of slowing economic growth, corruption and mounting debt levels.