China will scrap the customary press conference of the premier, the country’s number two official, at the end of each annual session of its rubber-stamp parliament.
National People’s Conference spokesperson Lou Qinjian said the practice would be discontinued at this year’s meeting.
While carefully stage-managed each year with pre-arranged questions, the event provided a platform for the premier to showcase his policies independently from the president.
But under Xi Jinping, China’s most powerful leader since Mao Zedong, the influence of premiers has waned. According to analysts, current appointee Li Qiang has adopted a lower profile than his predecessor Li Keqiang.