China invites journalists to cover big political meetings

BEIJING - Journalists from China and abroad are being invited to cover two major Chinese political meetings next month.

The fourth annual session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, will open on March 5 in Beijing.

The fourth session of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body, will open on March 3.

A media center for the two meetings will open from Feb. 27, the general offices of the NPC Standing Committee and the CPPCC National Committee said Monday.

Chinese mainland and resident foreign journalists should submit applications for reporting passes to the media center, while foreign reporters temporarily in China for the "two sessions" should apply at Chinese embassies or visa organizations authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Reporters from Hong Kong and Macao should apply at the central government's liaison offices in the two special administrative regions. Reporters from Taiwan should apply to the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.

The deadline for journalistic applications is Feb. 25.

Information on the NPC session will be posted at www.npc.gov.cn/pc/12_4 and on the CPPCC session at www.cppcc.gov.cn. Enditem