Almost 2,000 journalists from home and overseas have so far applied to cover the upcoming annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), or the "two sessions".

The Fifth Session of the Tenth NPC will open on March 5 and the Fifth Session of the Tenth National Committee of the CPPCC will begin on March 3.

The press center of the "two sessions" formally began operations on Monday.

The press center at No. 3 Compound, Jiaoyu Street, Xidan, Xicheng District, Beijing, is near the Great Hall of the People, where the "two sessions" will be held.

The press center has opened two websites to help correspondents cover the meetings. The sites can be found at: www.npc.gov.cn and www.cppcc.gov.cn.

A leading official of the press center said on Monday that for the first time journalists can electronically file applications to cover the "two sessions" through the websites.

He said the press center will release the agenda of the "two sessions", detailed schedules for press conferences and group interviews and other information relating to the "two sessions" via the websites.

The press center has set up online computer terminals that provide free search services for journalists.