Reporters invited to cover major Chinese political meetings

BEIJING ?-- Journalists from China and abroad are being invited to cover two major political events in March.

The second session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC), the national legislature, will open on March 5.

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

The general offices of the NPC Standing Committee and the CPPCC National Committee announced Saturday that a media center for the two meetings will open from February 26 at the Media Center Hotel.

Chinese mainland and resident foreign journalists should submit applications for reporting passes to the media center before February 28, 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.

Two websites went live on Saturday to help domestic and overseas journalists cover the sessions.

The websites -- www.npc.gov.cn/pc/12_2 for the NPC session and www.cppcc.people.com.cn for the CPPCC session -- will post information related to the events, the offices said.