More than 20 provincial regions have convened the two annual sessions of their legislative and political consultative bodies, regarded as the warm-up for the national "two sessions" to be held in March. During the sessions, new ideas and new initiatives have put flesh on the bones of the hot topics of reform and innovation, economic development, improving standards of living, and environmental protection.

Comprehensively strengthen reform

Reform has been the hottest term at the provincial sessions of 2014. In the government reports from a number of provinces, "reform" is mentioned about 50 times on average. An overwhelming majority of the regions have listed comprehensively strengthening reform as one of the most important tasks for 2014.

Lowering GDP growth targets

Lowering GDP growth targets has also been listed in most provincial government reports. For example, Shanghai plans to reduce its GDP growth target in 2014 to 7.5 percent from last year's 7.7 percent, northwestern China's Gansu Province has dropped its target by 1.1 percentage points and both Southeastern China's Fujian Province and Northern China's Hebei Province by 0.5 percentage points.

Reduction of smog

A majority of regions have referred to the need to reduce smog. Beijing will reduce 2.6 million tons of coal consumption and shut down 300 heavily polluting enterprises; Shanghai proposes that it will promote joint prevention and control of air pollution in the Yangtze River Delta region.

As well as the relaxation of the one-child policy, a reduction of "the three public consumptions" (spending on receptions, travel, and overseas trips by central government departments), transformation of government functions, and new urbanization are also hot topics at the provincial sessions.