Chinese and foreign journalists were invited yesterday to cover the upcoming annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing.

The Fourth Session of the 10th NPC will open on March 5, and the Fourth Session of the 10th National Committee of the CPPCC will begin on March 3, according to the general offices of the NPC Standing Committee and the CPPCC National Committee.

The NPC is the top legislative body in China, while the CPPCC is a broad-based national advisory organization consisting of experts and citizens from all walks of life.

The CPPCC plays a supervisory role and accepts suggestions and criticisms relating to major state affairs and policies and other important issues.

A press center will be set up at the Xizhimen Hotel, No.172 Xizhimennei Street in Beijing.

Chinese correspondents from Beijing-based state media who want to cover the meetings are required to send their applications to the press center. Other domestic correspondents who want to come to Beijing to cover the meetings should send their applications to their local delegations who will deliver those applications to the press center.

Applications from Hong Kong and Macao correspondents should be sent to the liaison offices of the central?government in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions respectively.

Taiwan reporters should send their applications to the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

Resident foreign correspondents in China who want to cover the meetings are required to send their applications to the press center, and foreign correspondents who come to China for the events should send their applications to the Chinese embassies or consulates in their countries, or to the commissioner's offices of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Hong Kong and Macao.

The press center's deadline for receiving applications is March 5.

(Xinhua News Agency February 5, 2006)