27 deputies to China's top legislature have been dismissed or forced to resign since last March after they were placed under investigation for corruption.
Editor's Note: The two sessions, or the annual meetings of the National People's Congress and National Committee of the Chinese Political Consultative Conference, will convene in early March to discuss major economic and social issues such as GDP growth, military expenditures and measures to push reforms forward. China Daily will present a series of stories on the major issues likely to be discussed at the sessions.
Reporters covering the annual "two sessions" received their press passes in Beijing on Sunday. More than 3,000 journalists from home and abroad signed up to report on the most important political meetings in China this year.
A former Chinese vice governor known for his appetite for jade and arts was sentenced to 17 years in prison on corruption charges on Saturday.
After clearing way for rural land reform, China's top legislature ended its latest session on Friday to prepare for the upcoming annual parliamentary session.
Chen Jining was appointed as China's environmental protection minister on Friday, replacing Zhou Shengxian.
Lawmakers on Friday gave the greenlight to eased land-use rules in selected areas, which will help the implementation of rural land reform pilot projects.
Soldiers clean the golden guardrails around Tiananmen Square in Beijing on Feb, 2015. More than 200 soldiers were mobilized in the cleaning operation ahead of the two sessions of the National People's Congress and Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.