BEIJING -- Invitations have been sent out to journalists from China and abroad to cover two major Chinese political meetings next month.

The fifth annual session of the 12th National People's Congress (NPC), the country's top legislature, will open on March 5 in Beijing.

The fifth session of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the top political advisory body, will open on March 3.

A media center for the two meetings will be open from Feb 27, the general offices of the NPC Standing Committee and the CPPCC National Committee announced Friday.

Chinese and foreign journalists should submit applications for passes to the media center, while foreign reporters temporarily in China for the "two sessions" should apply to Chinese embassies or visa organizations authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Reporters from Hong Kong and Macao should apply at the central government's liaison offices in the two special administrative regions. Reporters from Taiwan should apply to the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office.
The deadline for applications is Feb. 25.

Information on the NPC session will be posted at www.npc.gov.cn/pc/12_5 and on the CPPCC session at www.cppcc.gov.cn.