Editor's note: The "two sessions" is a key event in China's political calendar. This year, the fourth session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) and the fourth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) will start on March 5 and 4, respectively. Thousands of national lawmakers and political advisors will gather in Beijing to discuss a series of policies and measures regarding China's future development.

With the annual sessions coming this week, it is important to review the country's social and economic development in the past extraordinary year. China.org.cn will present some of the highlights.

Last year, employment in China remained generally stable, while the surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas fell. Here's a brief overview of the figures: