Hopes voiced for next five years

This year's two sessions, which open this week, are especially important.

An extra item will be on the agenda - the proposed 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-20) for the nation's social and economic progress, which will be submitted to legislators for approval.

This is on top of hearing Premier Li Keqiang's Government Work Report on accomplishments in the past year and on what the government aims to achieve this year, including the closely watched GDP growth target.