China's top political advisory body, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), will convene for the fourth session of its 14th National Committee at 15:00 Beijing time on Wednesday.
It marks the start of the "two sessions", a major event in China's political calendar, which refers to the annual meetings of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's highest organ of state power, and the National Committee of the CPPCC.
The meetings have gathered thousands of national lawmakers and political advisors from across the country in the Chinese capital.
China's top political advisory body starts annual session at Great Hall of the People
The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, opened its annual session on Wednesday in Beijing.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the opening meeting of the fourth session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee at the Great Hall of the People, along with other leaders and about 2,000 political advisors from across the country.
Shi Taifeng, vice chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, announced the opening of the session.
The military band played the Chinese national anthem. The agenda for the session was reviewed and approved at the meeting.
Wang Huning, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, delivered a work report on behalf of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee.
The CPPCC is an organization in the patriotic united front of the Chinese people, an important organ for multi-party cooperation and political consultation under the leadership of the CPC, and an important means of promoting socialist democracy in China's political life.
The main functions of the CPPCC are to conduct political consultation, exercise democratic supervision and participate in the discussion and handling of state affairs.
This year's CPPCC session is scheduled to last till March 11.
China's top political advisory body starts annual session
