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| China's annual National People's Congress begins | China's annual National People's Congress begins |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| China's annual National People's Congress is under way at Beijing's Great Hall of the People - a 10-day affair that is the last parliamentary session under the current leadership. | |
| Premier Wen Jiabao is delivering the opening speech to some 3,000 delegates from across the nation. | Premier Wen Jiabao is delivering the opening speech to some 3,000 delegates from across the nation. |
| He will deliver a report card and set the agenda for the next 12 months. | He will deliver a report card and set the agenda for the next 12 months. |
| These are expected to include a 7.5% target growth and $100bn (£65bn) in military spending. | These are expected to include a 7.5% target growth and $100bn (£65bn) in military spending. |
| The economic growth target was cited in an official report distributed to the media ahead of Mr Wen's speech, state media Xinhua news agency reports. | The economic growth target was cited in an official report distributed to the media ahead of Mr Wen's speech, state media Xinhua news agency reports. |
| The country has also set its inflation target at 4% and pledged to create nine million new jobs in towns and cities. | The country has also set its inflation target at 4% and pledged to create nine million new jobs in towns and cities. |
| Early in his speech Mr Wen said farmers' land rights should "not be violated" - reflecting public concern over land seizures for development. | |
| The parliamentary session is the way the Communist Party tries to connect with the public, says the BBC's correspondent in Beijing, Martin Patience. | The parliamentary session is the way the Communist Party tries to connect with the public, says the BBC's correspondent in Beijing, Martin Patience. |
| There is little dissent during the session and almost all decisions are rubber-stamped, he adds. | There is little dissent during the session and almost all decisions are rubber-stamped, he adds. |
| Later this year a once-in-a-decade leadership change will begin. China's leader-in-waiting, Xi Jinping, is expected to take over the party leadership from President Hu Jintao. | Later this year a once-in-a-decade leadership change will begin. China's leader-in-waiting, Xi Jinping, is expected to take over the party leadership from President Hu Jintao. |
| Behind the scenes of this session senior officials will be jockeying for power, says our correspondent, but the Communist party will be determined to keep any divisions within its ruling elite behind closed doors. | Behind the scenes of this session senior officials will be jockeying for power, says our correspondent, but the Communist party will be determined to keep any divisions within its ruling elite behind closed doors. |
| During the meeting, which ends on 14 March, parliament is expected to approve changes to the criminal procedure law which some fear could legalise secret detentions. | |
| Parliament convened a day after China announced a 11.2% increase in its defence spending - pushing it above $100bn (£65bn) for the first time. |