Chinese leaders project stability despite war

China's leaders wrapped up nine days of annual legislative meetings in Beijing on Thursday, projecting an image of domestic stability seemingly unaffected by the war in key trading partner Iran.

Officials under President Xi Jinping vowed to boost domestic consumption and invest in new technologies including artificial intelligence to drive growth, while making few changes to China's policy roadmap for the next five years.

There was also little signalling whether the United States and Israel's ongoing strikes against Iran Would disrupt US President Donald Trump's expected visit to Beijing this month.


Also read: India among 140 countries at UNSC to condemn Iran's attacks on neighbours

This year's "Two Sessions" political gathering saw Beijing announce a steady seven-percent boost to China's annual defence budget, and approve laws on development planning, ethnic unity and a new environmental code.