China looks to close the chapter on coronavirus with big targets for 2021 at its annual National People’s Congress

One year after coronavirus battered the global economy, Beijing’s leaders are signalling to the world it’s ready to close the chapter on the pandemic.

China’s rubber-stamp parliament, the National People’s Congress, began meeting on Friday as part of a week-long conference to discuss, among other things, the country’s ambition for 2021 and its bigger picture strategy for the next five years.

But already debate is raging about the country’s economic goals.

China’s government has unveiled it is aiming for a GDP growth rate of more than six per cent for the year ahead despite China’s Finance ministry describing the country’s fiscal situation as “quite grave”.

Premier Li Keqiang’s announcement, which is part of his annual work report at the…