Voice from Doha

Al Jazeera: China vows to tackle social divide 06/03

China's premier has opened the country's annual parliamentary session pledging to tackle a growing social divide and make "improving people's well-being" the focus of the country's development.

Wen devoted much of Friday's speech to the economy, with emphasis on trying to push consumer spending as part of China's attempts to reduce its dependence on exports.

He again set a target of eight per cent economic growth this year and called 2010 a "crucial year in the battle against the global slowdown".

But Beijing also plans to increase spending on social programmes and direct more development money to rural areas as Wen said urgent solutions were needed to combat "major problems" in the areas of healthcare, education, housing, income distribution and public administration.

Al Jazeera: China's parliamentary season begins 03/03

Chinese authorities have stepped up security in Beijing as the opening of the national legislature's annual session gets underway.

The sessions are collectively known as "the two meetings", at which thousands of delegates are said to approve the policies of the ruling Communist Party as the government unveils its economic strategy for 2010 and its budget.

The CPPCC opens with a speech broadly outlining issues of national concern delivered by Jia Qinglin.

This year's legislative session is expected to focus on economic policy. The government, which releases a budget and work plan for the year, is expected to boost spending on education, pensions and medical care again, continuing a push begun over the past decade to repair the country's social safety net.

According to analysts, the plight of migrant workers will be one of the leading priorities amid fears over a widening wealth gap and social stability in a country that annually sees tens of thousands of protests - often violent - by those who have missed out on China's economic boom.