Chinese and foreign journalists were invited 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 Third Session of the 10th NPC will open on March 5, and the Third 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 which relate to major state affairs and policies and other important issues.

A press center will be set up at the China Hall of Science and Technology, No.3 Fuxing Street, Beijing. It will be responsible for arranging for Chinese and foreign correspondents to cover the two meetings.

Chinese correspondents from Beijing-based state media who want to cover the meetings are required to send their applications to the press center. Local 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 People's Government in the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, respectively.

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.

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 5, 2005)