Background

The top legislative body has 2,964 deputies, representing China's 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions as well as Hong Kong, Macao and the military.

Unprecedented attention is expected to be paid this year as the annual economic growth target is widely forecast to be cut to around 7 percent, the lowest in 11 years and down from last year's goal of 7.5 percent.

Global media will keep a close eye on details of the defense budget after a journalist with Reuters news agency asked a question of spokeswoman Fu Ying during a press conference.

The government report will be under the scrutiny of the lawmakers, who will also hear and deliberate on reports from the Standing Committee, Supreme People's Court and Supreme People's Procuratorate.

There will be a number of high-profile press conferences, including the one given by Li at the end of the session.