The majority of the foreign reporters covering the two are based in Beijing.

Unlike those who take a crash course in Chinese economies and politics before flying in for a few days to cover events like this, they have been "stationed" in China for up to a decade.

All that experience makes them keen observers. They are more aware of the ground realities and are thus more wary of "stereotyping" in reporting.

Olga Tanasiychuk is one such "embed" - she first covered an NPC session was 1994. "I have always had empathy toward the development of China - all the efforts made by its government and its people," said the reporter from National News Agency of Ukraine's Beijing Bureau.

"But empathy aside, I would have to admit that there indeed are lot of changes. And as a reporter, I can feel it personally. For one thing, access to the meetings has been greater and greater."

(China Daily March 1, 2008)