The news conference on the first session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2013. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Presidium elected, agenda set for legislative session

Deputies to the 12th National People's Congress (NPC) gathered here Monday morning to elect the presidium and set the agenda for the legislative session scheduled to open on Tuesday.

It was the first time for the NPC deputies, who were elected earlier this year, to gather in the Great Hall of the People for the annual session of the national legislature. >>More

China defends military expenditure as key to Asia stability, prosperity

China's defensive military policies have played a core role in maintaining peace and stability in Asia, a spokesperson for the annual session of China's national legislature said here Monday.

"China's peaceful foreign policies and its defensive military policies are conducive to security and peace of Asia," Fu Ying, spokesperson for the first session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC), told a press conference. >>More

No change to "one country, two systems"

The spokeswoman for China's national legislative session on Monday denied speculation that the central government is "tightening up" control over Hong Kong.

China's central government sticks to the principle of "one country, two systems," said Fu Ying, the newly-appointed spokeswoman for the first session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC), at a press conference. >>More

China's political reform will not copy models

China reaffirmed that it will not copy other countries' models in its drive for political reform, a spokeswoman said Monday.

China's political reform is "the self-improvement and development of the socialist system with Chinese characteristics," said Fu Ying, spokeswoman for the first session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC), at a press conference. >>More

Environmental protection legislation to improve

China's top legislature will "respond positively" to the public concerns on environmental issues, a spokeswoman said at a press conference on Monday.

The National People's Congress (NPC) will revise and improve the Law on the Prevention and Treatment of Air Pollution and the Environmental Protection Law, said Fu Ying, spokeswoman for the first session of the 12th NPC, which kicks off on March 5. >>More

NPC gives 31 seats to migrant workers

The 12th National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, has given 31 seats to migrant workers, a drastic rise from three in the 11th NPC, a spokeswoman said Monday.

Compared with the 11th NPC, deputies from the groups of industrial workers and farmers have risen to 155, about 5 percentage points higher, Fu Ying, spokeswoman for the first session of the 12th NPC, said at a news conference in Beijing. >>More