Foreign experts look forward to annual political sessions in China

With the start of this year's political sessions in Beijing set to get underway this weekend, foreign observers are preparing to keep tabs on the annual event in China.

"Corruption is something which can gnaw at the roots of any society. And it is a very heartening decision that corruption in China was decided to be rooted out not just at the bottom level but also at the top. And in fact, examples were made where it showed that both tigers and flies were being swatted," said Sultan Harley, a leading political observer in Pakistan, pointing out one of the areas of interest for him is how the Chinese government intends to continue to tackle corruption. 

A major drive to root out internal Party corruption was launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the previous National Congress of the Communist Party of China in late 2012. 

Ahead of the next National Congress later on this year, the National Bureau of Statistics has been conducting polling to find out how people feel about the corruption drive.

The surveys have found that around 90% of those asked are satisfied with the anti-graft campaign's effort through this past year, which is up from the 75% before the drive started in 2012. 

Meanwhile, Sultan Harley added another area of interest for Pakistan is the Chinese government's push to clean up the environment. 

"China has not only made a resolve to address this, but it is taking steps towards a greener society, towards a society where there is purity of air and where people can breathe fresh air and live and prosper in a healthy atmosphere," Harley noted.

Issues connected to trade, growth and finance are always key areas of interest at the annual political event.

"This is a very good and correct and bright policy. In demand side of economy is much, much more difficult than supply side. And supply side means that productivity and efficiency and economy should grow very fast. China has to go to its final stage of its economic development immediately before the stage in which the Chinese economy will be a developed country, developed economy," stressed Iranian economist Saeed Laylaz, saying that one area the Iranian side will be paying attention to is the Chinese government's supply-side reforms.

This year's political sessions come just weeks before Beijing plays host to a major summit for the government's "Belt and Road" initiative.

The forum is set to attract numerous world leaders and will be the highest-level gathering connected to the "Belt and Road" strategy since it was first launched by Chinese President Xi Jinping three years ago.

As such, the "Belt and Road" is expected to be a prominent theme at this year's political sessions, which are set to open in Beijing this weekend.