What to watch at China's 'two sessions' in crucial year

-- China's "two sessions," a key event in the country's political calendar, will open this week after being postponed due to COVID-19.

-- The world will watch as China charts the course for a crucial year to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects, while effectively warding off coronavirus risks.

-- Regular epidemic control, economic growth target, poverty alleviation, employment priority policy and civil code could be top of the agenda.

BEIJING - China's top legislature and political advisory body will hold annual sessions this week, more than two months after this key political event was postponed due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

The world will watch how China charts the course for a crucial year to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects and achieve its development goals, while effectively warding off coronavirus risks.

The following are some key topics expected at the sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

Regular epidemic control

Public health is expected to be a hot topic during the "two sessions," with experience and lessons derived from combating COVID-19 to be discussed.

Hu Yu, a national political advisor and president of the Union Hospital in Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, said the participants are expected to conduct in-depth discussions on how to fix the shortcomings in the country's major epidemic prevention and control mechanisms and the national public health system.

Through arduous efforts, China has achieved decisive results in the fight against COVID-19 to protect hard-hit Hubei and its capital city Wuhan. The nation has also made major strategic strides in curbing the spread of the virus.

As of Sunday, the overall confirmed cases on the mainland reached 82,954, including 82 patients who were still being treated and 78,238 people who had been discharged after recovery. Altogether 4,634 people had died of the disease.

National lawmakers and political advisors will discuss how to strive for good performances in all areas of economic and social development while implementing regular epidemic prevention and control measures.