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China's annual National People's Congress begins China's Premier Wen opens National People's Congress
(about 1 hour 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 has opened China's annual National People's Congress (NPC) with a speech focused on the economy and a boost to military spending, among other issues.
Premier Wen Jiabao is delivering the opening speech to some 3,000 delegates from across the nation. Mr Wen spoke to some 3,000 delegates from across the nation at Beijing's Great Hall of the People.
He will deliver a report card and set the agenda for the next 12 months. He also addressed farmers' land rights, inflation, and job creation targets.
These are expected to include a 7.5% target growth and $100bn (£65bn) in military spending. The 10-day meeting is the last parliamentary session under the current leadership.
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. Later this year, a once-in-a-decade transition of power will begin. Vice-Premier Xi Jinping is widely expected to take over the party leadership from President Hu Jintao.
The country has also set its inflation target at 4% and pledged to create nine million new jobs in towns and cities. Land rights
Early in his speech Mr Wen said farmers' land rights should "not be violated" - reflecting public concern over land seizures for development. In an address seen as China "state of the nation" speech, Mr Wen said China had set a 7.5% economic growth target this year - lower than the 8% target of the last eight years.
The parliamentary session is the way the Communist Party tries to connect with the public, says the BBC's correspondent in Beijing, Martin Patience. This points to signs that the country is looking towards a slightly slower growth rate as it tries to rebalance the economy.
There is little dissent during the session and almost all decisions are rubber-stamped, he adds. China also set its inflation target at 4% and pledged to create nine million new jobs in towns and cities.
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. Mr Wen also spoke about boosting domestic consumption, increasing spending on social services and raising incomes for middle and low-income groups, as well as expanding consumer credit.
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. "We aim to promote steady and robust economic development, keep prices stable, and guard against financial risks by keeping the total money and credit supply at an appropriate level, and taking a cautious and flexible approach," he said.
Security issues were also high on the agenda. Parliament convened a day after China announced a 11.2% increase in its defence spending - pushing it above $100bn (£65bn) for the first time.
"We will enhance the armed forces' capacity to accomplish a wide range of military tasks, the most important of which is to win local wars under information-age conditions," Mr Wen said.
In recent months tensions between China and its neighbours over territorial disputes in the South China Sea have been growing.
An increase of 11.5% in public security spending was also announced, bringing the annual total to $111bn.
Early in his speech Mr Wen said farmers' land rights were ''property rights'' and should "not be violated" - reflecting public concern over land seizures for development.
The issue has become more prominent in recent months following high-profile protests in the Guangdong village of Wukan.
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.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. Behind the scenes of this session senior officials will be jockeying for power, say correspondents, but the Communist party will be determined to keep any divisions within its ruling elite behind closed doors.