The fifth session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China’s top political advisory body, started Friday afternoon at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo: Li Xin/Xinhua

Yao Ming, former NBA star and member of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC, heads Friday to the Great Hall of the People, where the “Two Sessions” are held. Photo: VCG

Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the fifth session of the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC. Photo: Yin Bogu/Xinhua

CPPCC members from across China convened in the Great Hall Friday. This will be the last year of their duties in the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC. Photo: Rao Aimin/Xinhua

A preparatory meeting for the fifth session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) kicks off Friday noon online and in person. Photo: Chen Zhonghao/Xinhua

Zhang Yesui, spokesperson for the fifth session of the 13th NPC, introduces the agenda of the meeting and answers questions from journalists. Photo: VCG

Jin Qingzhong, director of the information bureau of the general office of the NPC Standing Committee, hosts a press conference for the the fifth session of the 13th NPC. Photo: VCG

Wang Yaping, the first woman to board China’s space station and perform a spacewalk, is a delegate to the NPC. Photo: VCG

Delegates wearing ethnic minority costumes of Southwest China’s Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region arrive in Beijing to attend the fifth session of the 13th NPC Thursday. Photo: VCG

The delegates from East China’s Anhui province arrive in Beijing to attend the fifth session of the 13th National People’s Congress on Thursday. Photo: VCG

As China’s two most important political gatherings of the year, the “Two Sessions” will kick off on Friday and Saturday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo: IC Photo