Much has been said about the premier's news conference, but not so much about Li Keqiang's leisurely manner in dealing with media this year compared with last year.

More than 10 days after the terrorist attack in Kunming, Yunnan province, the pain still lingers - a pain familiar to people from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, which is on the front lines of China's anti-terrorism battle and home of people from different ethnic groups including Uygur, Han, Kazak, Tajik and so many others.

On March 10, five deputies of the National People's Congress attended a news conference to answer questions about how they fulfilled their duties last year.

Some big topics on the Internet give an indication of what interests the public the most in the ongoing two sessions.

Over the past week, I have spent much time with some of the country's most famous artists – including filmmakers, singers, choreographers, writers, actors, painters and musicians - during the NPC and CPPCC sessions.

I have to say before I begin this journal that what I am going to write is not sexist.

I wanted to ask the agricultural minister a question after his meandering statement about genetically modified crop safety in China.

Every time I have been assigned to cover China's top annual political event, the two sessions, I have always enjoyed conversations I had about it outside the Great Hall of the People with different people.

As a veteran reporter of the annual legislative and political advisory sessions, I consider the two sessions a big political gala.

To smoke or not to smoke? That remains a question at the annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a forum of China's elites.

Many Chinese have been inspired by new Party leader Xi Jinping's idea of the "China dream". The dream for many like Yang Cui who are from poor and disadvantaged backgrounds is to have opportunities to earn their daily bread, stand on their own two feet and live a decent life.