Premier Li Qiang Chairs State Council Meeting, Focuses on Key Economic and Environmental Issues

In a significant move to bolster economic and environmental initiatives, Premier Li Qiang presided over a State Council Executive Meeting on February 11. The meeting, which addressed various strategic and regulatory issues, underscored the importance of enhancing China’s position in global service trade and promoting the sustainable recycling of power batteries used in new energy vehicles. These are increasingly acute issues, affecting many economies.

The session reviewed and passed the “Action Plan for Improving the Recycling and Utilization System of Power Battery in New Energy Vehicles” (“production, sales, dismantling and utilization”). This initiative aims to establish a robust framework for managing the disposal and reuse of electric vehicle batteries. Li Qiang stressed, The meeting pointed out that my country’s new energy vehicle power batteries have entered the stage of large-scale decommissioning, and it is particularly important to comprehensively improve the recycling and utilization capacity of power batteries.

Li emphasized the need for a comprehensive system that ensures the safety, efficiency, and traceability of the recycling process, utilizing digital technology to monitor the entire lifecycle of power batteries.

Promoting Service Trade and Consumption

One of the most compelling points of discussion was the role of service trade and consumption. The meeting highlighted that developing these sectors is a crucial strategy for stabilizing foreign trade and boosting domestic demand. Strategies include enhancing innovation in service trade, expanding the negative list of cross-border service trade, and aligning with international high-standard economic and trade rules. This is akin to the efforts by the Obama administration to open up more sectors to foreign investment and trade in services.

Action Plan for Recycling Power Batteries

The meeting emphasized the pressing need to strengthen the management of the entire chain of power battery recycling. The focus is on identifying and addressing bottlenecks, building a standardized, safe, and efficient system, and using legal means to regulate the recycling process. The meeting pointed out we must use legal means to standardize recycling and utilization, formulate and improve relevant administrative regulations, and strengthen supervision and management. The emphasis is on leveraging standards to guide and drive the sustainable operations of power batteries.

Handling Public and Political Consultation

Addressing the handling of public suggestions and political consultation proposals, Li Qiang stated, Handling the suggestions of NPC deputies and CPPCC proposals is an inherent requirement for the government to consciously accept supervision and perform duties in accordance with the law, and is also an important manifestation of the in-depth practice of people’s democracy throughout the whole process. Noticeable progress was made on some key points and involving a number of complex practical issues.

These dialogues have been instrumental in driving a responsive and democratic system, with all suggestions and proposals being addressed to the government last year having been effectively solved. The outcome indicates a successful practice that could serve as a model for governance.