Media services for the annual sessions of China's top legislature and national advisory body have been boosted to better serve journalists from both home and abroad.

Journalists for the first time can register online by visiting the two websites: www.npc.gov.cn and www.cppcc.gov.cn.

"It will make applications more convenient and swift, especially for the overseas journalists," He Shaoren, director of the media center for the two conferences, said.

The media centers for the annual sessions officially opened yesterday and staff have already begun arranging interviews for journalists.

About 2,000 journalists, including 400 foreign correspondents have applied for accreditation for the sessions.

NPC media center staffer Cong Wu, said the number of foreign journalists covering the annual sessions this year could exceed the 600 who registered last year.

Other media service initiatives include an online digital map of Beijing for reporters, English language versions of the annual government work report, National People's Congress (NPC) work report and other key documents.

"Also, more interviews will be arranged for the journalists, and more content of the conferences will be made available through several channels," Cong said.

Several key press conferences, including those from Premier Wen Jiabao, will be held during this year's NPC session.

There will also be media briefings on China's economic and social development, financial work, foreign trade and currency policy, employment and social security.

The fifth session of the 10th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) will open on Saturday, and the fifth session of the 10th NPC begins March 5.

A total of 1,006 proposals have been raised by 3,000 NPC delegates during the last session. The Standing Committee of the 10th National People's Congress (NPC) deliberated 24 draft laws and law-related resolutions and adopted 15 of them since March 2006.

(China Daily 02/27/2007 page3)