China's national legislature starts annual session

The 14th National People's Congress (NPC) opens its first session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Han Zheng, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Wang Qishan attended the opening meeting. Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the session's presidium, presided over the meeting. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

BEIJING, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, opened its first session Sunday morning at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Li Qiang, Wang Huning, Han Zheng, Cai Qi, Ding Xuexiang, Li Xi and Wang Qishan attended the opening meeting.

Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the session's presidium, presided over the meeting.

Premier Li Keqiang delivered a government work report at the meeting.

Lawmakers reviewed a report from the State Council on the implementation of the 2022 plan and on the 2023 draft plan for national economic and social development, as well as the draft plan for national economic and social development in 2023.

Also submitted for their review were a report from the State Council on the execution of the central and local budgets for 2022 and on the draft central and local budgets for 2023, as well as the draft central and local budgets for 2023.

Wang Chen, vice chairman of the 13th NPC Standing Committee, explained the draft amendment to the Legislation Law at the opening meeting.

Lawmakers voted to adopt a decision on establishing 10 special committees of the 14th NPC and a voting method for chairpersons, vice chairpersons and members of the special committees.

They also voted to approve chairpersons, vice chairpersons and members of two special committees, namely the Constitution and Law Committee and the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee.

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

Zhao Leji, executive chairman of the presidium of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), presides over the opening meeting of the session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo)

Deputies attend the opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Jin Haoyuan)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

Deputies attend the opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

Deputies attend the opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Deputies attend the opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo)

Members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) sit in on the opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) as non-voting participants at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Deputies attend the opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Haofu)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Jin Haoyuan)

The opening meeting of the first session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) is held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Fei Maohua)

Deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC) Wang Yongcheng (2nd L, front), who is visually impaired, attends the opening meeting of the first session of the 14th NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo)

Deputies to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) walk towards the Great Hall of the People for the opening meeting of the first session of the 14th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. The 14th NPC, China's national legislature, opened its first session Sunday morning here in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)

Deputies to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) walk towards the Great Hall of the People for the opening meeting of the first session of the 14th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. The 14th NPC, China's national legislature, opened its first session Sunday morning here in Beijing. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Deputies to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) walk towards the Great Hall of the People for the opening meeting of the first session of the 14th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. The 14th NPC, China's national legislature, opened its first session Sunday morning here in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

Deputies to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) walk towards the Great Hall of the People for the opening meeting of the first session of the 14th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. The 14th NPC, China's national legislature, opened its first session Sunday morning here in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)

Deputies to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) walk towards the Great Hall of the People for the opening meeting of the first session of the 14th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. The 14th NPC, China's national legislature, opened its first session Sunday morning here in Beijing. (Xinhua/Cao Can)

Deputies to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) walk towards the Great Hall of the People for the opening meeting of the first session of the 14th NPC in Beijing, capital of China, March 5, 2023. The 14th NPC, China's national legislature, opened its first session Sunday morning here in Beijing. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai)

This photo taken on March 5, 2023 shows the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China. The 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, opened its first session Sunday morning here in Beijing. (Xinhua/Chen Yichen)