The Chinese Communist Party’s message of confidence

Beijing set a date for its much-delayed top political gathering, the annual session of the National People’s Congress, sending its strongest signal that things were getting back to normal as the outbreak slows.

The congress scheduled for May 22 will provide the ruling party with a platform to project confidence following criticism of its handling of the coronavirus crisis. It will likely focus on ending rural poverty, a commitment crucial to President Xi Jinping’s legacy.

“This is a symbolic event, showing China has won the war,” said one Beijing expert in Hong Kong.

History: The decision in February to delay the meeting came as a shock to many in China. Even during the SARS outbreak in 2003, the session went ahead. In past years, the meeting has drawn nearly 3,000 delegates from every province.

Here are the latest updates, as well as maps of the pandemic.

In other developments:

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