China's National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, started its annual full session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing at 9 a.m. on Thursday.
Premier Wen Jiabao will deliver a report on the work of the government at the opening session, chaired by NPC Standing Committee Chairman Wu Bangguo.
A total of 2,949 lawmakers are present at the opening meeting along with top Party and state leaders Hu Jintao, Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang.