Major issues discussed at the Congress include the 2007–2008 financial crisis, economy of China, curbing unemployment, and social welfare.

Highlights of the Congress included Premier Wen Jiabao's expression of confidence in the growth of China's economy in 2009, conciliatory remarks towards Taiwan from Beijing, NPC Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo's reiteration that China will not adopt Western-style democracy, and Wen's expressed doubts about U.S. treasury securities.

The agenda for this year's NPC consisted of:[3] The Premier, Wen Jiabao, delivered the annual Government Work Report on March 5, 2009.

[4] Wen pointed to improvements in cross-strait relations between mainland China and Taiwan, and declared that the two sides have entered a "peaceful period".

The Chair of the NPC, Wu Bangguo, delivered his report on the work of the National People's Congress over the past year.

[8] Wu also stated China cannot indiscriminately copy western political concepts such as multi-party governance, separation of powers namely the executive, legislative and judicial branch, or turning the NPC into a bicameral system.

[12][13] China's Prosecutor-General Cao Jianming stated the central government will step up the inspection of prisons, with more resources and surprise checks, to prevent inmates from being bullied or tortured.

[14] The main points that came up from Cao's work report are:[15] Cai acknowledge in 2008, the total number of arrest came up to 952,583 suspects for numerous crimes and 1,143,897 were prosecuted.

[15] On March 13 Premier Wen Jiabao held the annual NPC press conference to a gallery of domestic and international reporters.

[16] China has over half of its estimated $2 trillion of foreign exchange holdings in United States Treasury securities and other U.S. government debt and Wen remarked, "We have lent a huge amount of money to the U.S. Of course we are concerned about the safety of our assets.