Twin conferences set to tackle tough agenda

On the eve of this year's Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and National People's Congress (NPC) - scheduled to open today and Thursday respectively - the Xinhuanet.com website has released a series of topics likely to dominate the two session's agendas. They include:

The 8 percent growth rate

With the global financial crisis still yet to fully unfold, how to expand domestic demand and maintain a comparatively rapid economic growth is expected to top the agenda. To deal with the global economic slowdown, China has adjusted its macroeconomic policy from preventing an overheated economy and excessive inflation to focusing on expanding domestic demand and maintaining the 8 percent goal.