The Third Session of the Ninth National People's Congress (NPC), China's top law-making body, which opened Monday morning, is to be remembered as the last grand gathering of the nation's parliament for the 20th century that will usher China smoothly into the new century.

Although it is an annual event for the legislature, the session has drawn legions of domestic and overseas reporters. Equipped with notebooks, recorders and cameras, reporters in the hope of an on-the-spot interview before the opening of the session packed the flights of steps that lead to the Great Hall of People, the venue for the annual gathering of deputies to the NPC.

Key issues for the session include state enterprise reform, development of China's western areas, China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Taiwan question, anti-corruption and development of rural China.

The Internet has made the session an even more widely-known event this year compared with the past, and some websites have even set aside a special page for the NPC session.

As a result of the clear weather and blue sky, NPC deputies hailed this year's session as "one of the warmest and freshest NPC sessions in history". However, only two years ago, heavy pollution in Beijing received the most criticism from NPC deputies.

Before the opening of the session, a crowd of local residents gathered on Tiananmen Square, watching from a distance NPC deputies walk into the Hall.

Xu Rong is a laid-off worker from a state-owned enterprise. " The NPC session is going to discuss the reform of state enterprises," he told Xinhua. "It will have a direct bearing on my personal interests."

Compared with their past narrow focus on the health of a top Chinese leader, the media today are paying attention to far more areas of interest.

Leading officials from local governments, for instance, became a common target of the media. While the central government policies have a direct bearing on local economies, strategic restructuring in these regions in turn affects the decision-making of the central government.

Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee Huang Ju said, Shanghai has put on an entirely new look and registered unprecedentedly fast growth during the past 20 years. With the implementation of the strategy of developing western areas and China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Shanghai is bound to create a new glorious chapter in its economic development program in years ahead.

Li Xiulin, an entrepreneur from northeast China's Jilin province, has high hopes for a full-scale upturn in profitability of state enterprises in the new century, citing a significant breakthrough last year in this regard.

Attracting more attention from reporters are deputies from ethnic minorities, whose colorful traditional costumes made them stand out among a sea of deputies wearing Western-style suits. The regions they hail from are expected to benefit the most from the central government's strategy of accelerating development of western regions.

A deputy from west China's Gansu Province was surrounded by more than 20 domestic and overseas reporters including those from foreign media such as Reuters and AP. "I will propose to the NPC session that environment protection should be strengthened in the western regions." he said. It is the first time that a Macao delegation has attended a session of China's supreme legislative body. "Changes in interior areas will help Macao become more prosperous," said Tong Seng Chiu, head of the delegation. "We have a great sense of responsibility."

Maria Tam Wai-chu, an NPC deputy from Hong Kong, said, "We firmly support policies of the central authorities."

Minutes before the opening of the NPC session, some of the deputies were still engaged in heated discussions. Topics they are going to talk about during the session include quality-oriented education, security of the Internet, transgenetic technology and how to make the film industry prosperous.

The information pavilion inside the Hall was surrounded by people. A staff member said there were far more people than terminals, though more of them have been added.

Mr. Oscar Ameyedowo, ambassador of Ghana, said the session is important for the future of China. Norman Bottorff, a reporter from the Associated Press Television News, said the anti-graft campaign, China's reunification, and the development of the western regions are crucial themes that will have a profound effect on the future development and stability of China.

In 1954, the NPC held its first session. Establishment of the people's congress system has been regarded as one of the most important changes in the history of China.

"After hearing the premier 's government work report and reading proposals by deputies, I believe China will become more colorful and splendid in future," said Zhang Deze, a local reporter from Chongqing City, southwest China.