NPC spokesperson briefs media on annual meeting

Zhang Yesui (C), spokesperson for the second session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), speaks during a press conference on the agenda of the session and the work of the NPC at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

A press conference on the Second Session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, has been held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday.

The spokesperson for the session briefed the media on the agenda of this year's meeting and answered questions from Chinese and international journalists.

Thousands of national lawmakers and political advisors are gathering in Beijing for the annual "Two Sessions," a key event in China's political calendar.

Here are some highlights of the news briefing: 

China, U.S. should step up economic, trade consultations: spokesperson

China and the United States should step up economic and trade consultations to reach a mutually beneficial agreement, Zhang Yesui, spokesperson for the second session of the 13th National People's Congress, said at a press conference Monday.

China's limited defense spending poses no threat to any other country: spokesperson

"Whether a country is a military threat to others or not is not determined by its increase in defense expenditure, but by the foreign and national defense policies it adopts," said Zhang Yesui, spokesperson for the second session of the 13th National People's Congress, at a press conference.

152 countries, int'l organizations sign B&R deals with China: spokesperson

A total of 152 countries and international organizations have signed cooperation documents with China on the Belt and Road Initiative, a spokesperson for the annual session of China's top legislature said Monday.

China hopes DPRK, U.S. to continue talks, stick to political solution

China hopes the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States will continue talks and stick to political solution which is key to resolving the Korean Peninsular issue, a spokesperson said Monday.

Cooperation best option for China, U.S.: spokesperson

Cooperation is the best option for China and the United States while a confrontational relationship would serve neither side's interests, a spokesperson said Monday.

Hype of China products security risks not fair, moral: spokesperson

The behavior of playing up the security risks in Chinese products by some U.S. officials is interference in economic activities by political means, a spokesperson for the annual session of China's top legislature said Monday.

China to legislate on personal information protection, AI: spokesperson

China plans to make a personal information protection law, in a bid to fight against improper collection, abuse and leak of citizen's personal information, a spokesperson for the annual session of the country's top legislature said Monday.

China doesn't create debt traps for Belt and Road economies: spokesman

China attaches great importance to the debt issues and does not create any traps for economies along the Belt and Road, Zhang Yesui, spokesman for the second plenary session of the 13th National People's Congress said Monday in a press conference in Beijing.

New Foreign Investment Law draft to be voted on Mar. 15

China's top legislature will vote on its draft Foreign Investment Law on March 15, Zhang Yesui, spokesman for the second plenary session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) said Monday in a press conference in Beijing.

NPC spokesperson answers questions on China-U.S. ties, DPRK and defense spending

One day before the Second Session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) opens in Beijing, Zhang Yesui, the spokesperson for the country's top legislature, briefed the media on the agenda of this year's meeting and answered questions related to China-U.S. relationship, the DPRK issue and China's defense spending among others. 

China to draft law on export management, control

China is looking to draft a law on the management and control of export, in a bid to enhance the legislation on national security and social governance, a spokesperson with the national legislature told a press briefing Monday.