China's national legislature to be in session for six and a half days

Journalists attend a press conference of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) via video link in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2022. The press conference was held via video link due to COVID-19 prevention and control requirements. [Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao]

BEIJING -- China's national legislature will open its annual session on Saturday morning in Beijing, a spokesperson said Friday.

The fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) is scheduled to conclude on March 11, with 10 items on the agenda, Zhang Yesui, spokesperson for the session, told a press conference.

Lawmakers will review documents including the government work report and deliberate the draft amendment to the Organic Law of the Local People's Congresses and Local People's Governments, Zhang said.

They will also deliberate the draft decision on the number of deputies to the 14th NPC and their election, and two draft methods for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) and the Macao SAR to elect their deputies to the 14th NPC, Zhang said. 

Zhang Yesui (C), spokesperson for the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), speaks during a press conference via video link in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2022. The press conference of the session was held via video link due to COVID-19 prevention and control requirements. Zhang took questions from media on the agenda of the session and the work of the people's congresses. [Xinhua/Chen Yehua]

A reporter asks a question during a press conference of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) via video link in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2022. The press conference was held via video link due to COVID-19 prevention and control requirements. [Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao]

Zhang Yesui, spokesperson for the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), speaks during a press conference via video link in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2022. The press conference of the session was held via video link due to COVID-19 prevention and control requirements. Zhang took questions from media on the agenda of the session and the work of the people's congresses. [Xinhua/Chen Yehua]

Zhang Yesui, spokesperson for the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), speaks during a press conference via video link in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2022. The press conference of the session was held via video link due to COVID-19 prevention and control requirements. Zhang took questions from media on the agenda of the session and the work of the people's congresses. [Xinhua/Chen Yehua]

Journalists attend a press conference of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) via video link in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2022. The press conference was held via video link due to COVID-19 prevention and control requirements. [Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao]

Journalists raise hands to ask questions during a press conference of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) via video link in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2022. The press conference was held via video link due to COVID-19 prevention and control requirements. [Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao]

Journalists attend a press conference of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) via video link in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2022. The press conference was held via video link due to COVID-19 prevention and control requirements. [Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao]

Journalists attend a press conference of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) via video link in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2022. The press conference was held via video link due to COVID-19 prevention and control requirements. [Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao]

Journalists attend a press conference of the fifth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) via video link in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2022. The press conference was held via video link due to COVID-19 prevention and control requirements. [Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao]