During the same week that China's top judicial body released the deadlines for the country's legal reforms, the Communist Party of China's primary media outlet, the People's Daily, published a media briefer in anticipation of the nation's two most significant political gatherings.
Both the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) and National Committee of the 12th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) are annual sessions that will come together for the third time on March 3 and 5, respectively.
In accordance with the guidelines that govern China's political practice, the NPC deputies and CPPCC members are required to forward suggestions and proposals to guide the formulation of policies that become enacted.
For anyone who is skeptical about the effectiveness of the two meetings, the Global Times brought up the example of former NBA basketball star Yao Ming, who is also a CPPCC member, when his proposal to abolish commercial sports event approval procedures became policy through the State Council in Sept. 2014.
While President Xi Jinping's "new normal" economic period continues to fill the media headlines, it is the NPC and CPPCC meetings that will structure the period of deep reforms that were first mentioned at the end of 2013.
Following March 5, it will be known whether China's economic policies will be altered to accommodate the era of "medium-to-high-speed growth," and whether the GDP growth rate will be impacted by reduced interest rates.
Other issues, which have also received high levels of publicity, to be covered in the first week of March include the relaxation of the one-child policy as a key part of the aging society problem; the immense "One Belt, One Road" projects; the ongoing anti-corruption campaign that has been integral to the president's career; upholding the rule of law through legal reforms; "hukou" reform that will benefit migrant workers, as well as the nation's transport system during major holiday periods; and pro-environmental infrastructural and policy changes.