Briefly

Journalists welcome to cover two sessions

Journalists from home and abroad are welcome to cover the annual two sessions of China's top legislature and top political advisory body, which will open in Beijing on March 5 and March 4 respectively, the general officials of both bodies said on Friday. News coverage of the two sessions will be carried out mainly through face-to-face or on-site reporting. A media center for the reception of journalists and the arrangement of interviews will be open from Feb 27. All journalists who want to cover the sessions should submit applications for approval. The deadline for applications is Feb 18. More information is available at www.npc.gov.cn and www.cppcc.gov.cn.

Students can have loan interest waived

China will waive the interest on national student loans and allow the extension of repayment as measures to alleviate the financial burden on college graduates with economic difficulties and support their employment this year, according to a circular released on Friday by the State Council, China's Cabinet. The interest on national student loans for students who graduated in or before 2024 will be exempted and the repayment of national student loans for the same group of students can be extended for one year upon students' voluntary applications, while the maximum period for the repayment should not exceed 22 years, the circular said.