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BEIJING : China's annual parliamentary session opened on Monday amidst tight security in the capital Beijing.
This year's session is expected to be dominated by economic issues as well as the restructuring of the country's bureaucracy.
It is one of the most important annual political events in China, where more than 2,000 delegates from across the country congregate for serious discussions on the issues affecting the nation.
More than 2,800 journalists have also descended upon the capital, the highest number ever, to cover the 11-day session.
For many Chinese journalists, the event has become a photo opportunity as well.
In view of the Olympics and new challenges facing China, the conferences this year have also garnered heightened interest among the domestic media.
Many journalists are covering the conferences the first time.
A wide range of issues will be discussed in this year's session.
Apart from economic issues such as rising inflation and the impact of the US sub-prime crisis, how the authorities managed the recent snow storms will also come under scrutiny.
Two sessions will be held in parallel.
The first is the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) which will see its members drawing up proposals for the government.
The second, the National People's Congress (NPC) is the country's top legislature which formulates policies which are legally binding.
For the first time, migrant workers will be given a say in the NPC, which begins its meetings on Wednesday.
Three migrant workers have been appointed as deputies in the NPC, underlying the increasingly important role they play in China's economy.
Wu Qing, Former Deputy, Beijing Municipal People's Congress, said: "I truly hope that these deputies will be able to really understand and defend the interests and needs of the group of the people they are representing. I also hope that they dare to speak the truth about their situation but this won't be easy."
As China development gains momentum, some of the bigger cities are seeing an influx of migrant workers and they face a range of problems from unpaid salaries to inadequate health insurance and pension welfare. - CNA/ch
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