Chinese and overseas journalists are welcome to cover the upcoming annual sessions of the National People's Congress ( NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference ( CPPCC), it was announced Monday.

The 5th Session of the 9th NPC and the 5th Session of the 9th National Committee of the CPPCC will begin in Beijing on March 5 and March 3, respectively, 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 which relate to major state affairs and policies and other important issues.

A press center will be set up at the Convention Center of the Beijing Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference (at No. 13, Jian'guomenwai Street). It will be responsible for arranging Chinese and overseas correspondents to cover the two meetings.

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.

Applications from Hong Kong and Macao correspondents should be sent to the liaison offices of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, respectively.

Taiwan reporters who temporarily come to cover the meetings should send their applications to the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council.

The deadline for applications from non-resident foreign correspondents and Taiwan reporters is March 8.

(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2002)